Q4 2025 WINNERS: Nooraldeen Amer Al-Ajely and Gareth Mathews

Quick thinking averted a suicide attempt

In September 2025, an unknown male entered a government building open to the public and took an elevator to the third floor. Over the course of several minutes, the man, who appeared to be in crisis, circulated between the third and fourth floors of the building, continuing to look over into the open atrium to the main level below.

At one point, the man removed a bottle of hand sanitizer from one of the building’s dispensers and appeared to ingest some of the liquid. He intentionally pulled a fire alarm, initiating a response from the onsite security staff. The man then made his way to a large public seating area and poured the hand sanitizer over himself and set himself on fire, causing severe burns to his upper torso and head.

Security staff responded to the source of the fire alarm and prepared for emergency services to arrive, but they received reports of someone screaming and shouting from the fourth floor. Upon arrival to the scene, they see the man and understand the severity of the situation. Additional calls were made to 911, and EMS arrived within minutes. As first responders attempted to assist the individual, he ran away.

A few moments later, Security Patrol Guard Noor Aldeen Al-Ajely was on the third floor and directed occupants of the building toward evacuation routes. He observed the injured individual exit the elevator and continued to redirect people away from the area while maintaining a safe distance. Team Lead Gareth Mathews approached the man from the opposite site of Noor, in order to contain the area around him. The man then attempted to lift himself over the atrium rail in order to jump. Without hesitation, Al-Ajely and Mathews ran to pull the man back from the rail and placed him on the floor. Without their efforts, the man would have been successful in his attempt to jump over the rail and fall to the main floor, causing himself severe injury or even death.

Almost immediately, first responders arrived on-scene and transported the man to the hospital.

Thank you for your brave actions during a very tense situation!