Warning: Some images in the video may be disturbing for some viewers. A former inmate who survived one of the deadliest prison riots in U.S. history recalled the gruesome scene during a recent interview with Action 7 News.On Feb. 2, 1980, New Mexico and the nation watched in horror as the prison devolved from an organized correctional facility into a slaughterhouse of sheer terror.Related ContentFeds: SNM Prison Gang tied to cold case murders in-and-out of prisonQuiz: Test your knowledge of the 1980 NM prison riotIn 1980, Gary Nelson, a convicted bank robber, escaped from another state prison. When police caught him in New Mexico, prison officials held him in Cell Block Two in Old Main.He wasn't sentenced to serve time in New Mexico. He was just waiting to be transferred to another prison.In the early hours of Feb. 2, 1980, he said some inmates were getting drunk on homemade alcohol when one prisoner had an idea."(He) jumped up. He'd been drinking and said, 'Look, when they come to count, and they leave that door open, we're going to jump them and take over this place,'" Nelson recalled.Nelson said he didn't believe the inmate."I've been in prison before I got here, and usually what happens is nothing," he said.The inmates overtook the prison after the counts were done, sparking a brutal 36-hour riot where 33 inmates would lose their lives."It's surreal. It really is surreal," Nelson said. "I could say that most of the time I was just apprehensive. I can't say I'm scared."Action 7 News was on scene during the ordeal, covering the riot from the outside. On the inside, inmates had already taken 12 guards hostage.Nelson showed Action 7 News the hallway where prisoners paraded one prison guard with a belt around his neck like a dog."Well, they're leading him. He's on a belt like a leash on a dog. He's on his knees and they're kicking him," Nelson said.Most of the inmates killed were so-called snitches. They were hunted down where they lived in Cell Block Four.Countless others were injured."You have people running around out here, stabbing people just to see what it's like to stab people. We've got people stabbing dead bodies. It's nuts here," Nelson said.Nelson said even more fear set in when they thought police and the National Guard were going to storm the prison."We was fearful, but just said, 'What can you do?' I just couldn't bring myself to walk up there to the gate and say, 'I surrender' because I was where I was supposed to be, and if they wanted their prison back, they could come get it anytime they want," Nelson said.Eventually, Nelson and the other surviving inmates surrendered. As tough as it is to relive the dark piece of New Mexico history, Nelson said his story and others need to be told."What happened here was a tragedy. We don't want to be doomed to repeat the same mistakes of the past," Nelson said.Survivors' stories are captured on new videos now being shown during public tours of the Old Main.After the riot, Nelson was transferred to a South Carolina state prison, which he said had worse conditions than the New Mexico prison.After serving his time, Nelson went on to be a criminal defense attorney. He's now retired.