TWO men have been arrested after a man suffered a cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a late-night 'mass brawl' in Southampton.

A witness told the Daily Echo that the fighting involved between 10 and 15 people and broke out after an argument.

The critically-ill 44-year-old man was rushed to Southampton General Hospital and his condition is described as being stable.

Officers believe people were recording the incident, which happened between midnight and 12.40am on Saturday morning, and are keen to see any footage which was taken.

Police, ambulance and door staff from a nearby nightclub rushed to Vernon Walk, near London Road, after the fight broke out.

A 42-year-old man from Southampton and 25-year-old man were arrested following the incident.

The 25-year-old was interviewed under caution and both have been released but remain under investigation.

A spokesman for nearby Junk nightclub told the Daily Echo that the incident did not involve the venue, but that door staff were called to help.

Club director Luca Pilato said: "Our doorstaff were called to an incident that had escalated from the bars at the rear of our venue that had moved into the alleyway next to our premises.

"As a duty of care we will assist incidents surrounding our premises even when like this one they are not linked to our venue.

"On arrival we noticed a man in distress and our DPS Wes Leigh called the ambulance services immediately and our door staff assisted other doorstaff from the venues involved."

Mr Leigh, a supervisor at Junk, said: “It was horrible.

“I was at the front of the club and heard some noise down the alleyway.

“I saw some doormen holding people on the floor. The gentleman was kicking out.

“Then they put him in the recovery position and I called an ambulance.

“His driving licence had fallen out of his pocket so I gave it to the ambulance.

“They were doing CPR on him for about 25 minutes. All they were trying to do was get him breathing."

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 44170168516, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.