The culinary manager of Ely State Prison was in critical condition Tuesday after being attacked by an inmate.
Corrections officials said Steve Roundy was assaulted by an inmate who followed him into a dry storage room and hit him on the head with a metal steam kettle paddle.
Roundy suffered severe head injuries in the attack and was flown by a medical helicopter to the University of Utah Hospital Monday afternoon where he was listed as critical.
The Department of Corrections Inspector General's Office and White Pine County Sheriff's office are investigating the incident.
Ely State Prison, which houses Nevada's most dangerous inmates, was put in lockdown pending the results of the investigation. The inmate involved was placed in Administrative Segregation. His identity was not released and no cause for the attack was available.
Roundy has been with the prison system eight years.