Security guard at Southampton Christmas Market saves life

Rayf Southern, 37, was patrolling the market at around 11.30pm on Tuesday when he noticed a male in the distance by one of the market huts.

The market is currently under construction ahead of its opening next Friday.

“I saw what looked like someone spinning on the spot,” Rayf recalled.

Rayf Southern (Image: Newsquest)

“As I got closer, it was a guy that had tried to hang himself.”

Rayf has been in security for 13 years and worked the Christmas market since 2020.

“I’ve never been in a split-second situation that felt like life or death like that, it’s not something that’s easy to talk about," he said of the incident outside JD Sports.

“It’ll stay with you for a while.”

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By the time Rayf was able to attend to the man, he realised that the person was already unconscious.

The security guard managed to get the casualty to come to before handing over to ambulance and police services.

The person was taken to University Hospital Southampton.

Rayf said: “Over the years I’ve dealt with [high-pressure situations] but not so much in a city centre at Christmas time.

“Nothing like that at all has ever happened, especially here at the market, and I hope it’s the first and last of that.”

The Southampton Christmas Market is still under construction and does not open until November 15. (Image: Alex Stapleton) Despite the Christmas Market not opening for a week, security have been patrolling the huts at night to tackle anti-social behaviour and break-ins.

READ MORE: Southampton’s Christmas market begins to take shape as opening looms

Rayf noted that sometimes people attempt to break into the market stalls when they are closed, but that there is not typically much crime to deal with before the market comes to life.

The security guard said: “Strangely enough on Monday night, two guys, all balaclava’d up with crowbars, they were trying to break into [a shop on Above Bar Street].

“Usually with the market, the younger students who have had a few drinks try to climb on stuff. But with those, you just talk to them a bit and they disappear.

“But this week just seems like a bit of a mad week.”

'Incredible act of humanity'

Marcel Cullers, director of Security Nation, said: “We’re proud to have Rayf working for us and it’s an immaculate, incredible act of humanity.

“Rayf never asks for praise, he keeps to himself and it's all very well when Rayf is working at the pubs and clubs and getting spat on and hissed at, but most people wouldn’t have known how to deal with the situation.

“When someone steps up and saves someone’s life, I think they should be praised and recognised as someone who has done a top job. Another 30 seconds and a man would have been dead.

“This guy is particularly diligent - he sees things they most people don’t.”

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