A pair of prominent Polish surgeons enjoying a casual weekend lunch with their families in Krakow’s bustling historic Main Market Square sprang into life-saving action mid-way through a random, deadly mass shooting that left six people dead and 15 others wounded on a Saturday afternoon. Professor Michal Pędziwiatr, head of General, Oncological, Metabolic and Emergency Surgery at Krakow University Hospital, and renowned local surgeon Dr Mateusz Wierdak had just settled in for their meal when Pędziwiatr’s young son ran over to alert them that gunfire was erupting nearby and bystanders were collapsing in the street.
Without hesitation, the two medical professionals rushed toward the chaos, prioritizing care for every injured person at the scene regardless of identity. “When it comes to saving lives, it doesn’t matter who is who,” Pędziwiatr later told local outlet Fakt, noting they treated both the gunman and two police officers who had been shot while subduing the attacker. Wierdak performed impromptu, urgent first aid on one gravely wounded officer, who had sustained a severe chest gunshot injury, by packing the wound with all available bandages and manually applying direct pressure with his hands to stop life-threatening bleeding during the lengthy wait for emergency ambulances. Pędziwiatr immediately called the nearby John Paul II Hospital’s specialized thoracic and cardiac surgery department, insisting they prepare to receive the officer to maximize his survival odds. Both wounded officers, Senior Constables Jakub Kulik and Artur Morański, who were hailed as “true heroes” by the Polish prime minister for stopping the rampage before it could claim many more lives, emerged from medically induced comas on Sunday, showing promising signs of recovery.
The 24-year-old Polish suspect, who remains in critical condition, was found to have been wearing full military tactical gear and armed with a military-grade weapon during the roughly three-minute attack, which shattered shop front windows and even struck a passing tram. A subsequent search of his home uncovered the bodies of his parents and sister, and Poland’s National Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched a formal terror investigation led by its specialist terrorist offences unit, after interior minister Marcin Kierwiński confirmed all evidence points to the suspect being radicalized by violent far-right and ultra-nationalist ideologies. The six fatal victims include four Polish citizens, one British national, and an Austrian woman.
Additional unsung heroes emerged from the chaos: six Dublin Civil Defence volunteers, who were on a leisure city break near the square, deployed their official emergency medical training to administer CPR and critical haemorrhage control for wounded bystanders. Witness accounts painted a picture of overwhelming panic and confusion as the attack unfolded, with visitors from across Europe describing frantic sprints for cover to avoid the unknown location of the active shooter. Krakow’s mayor has submitted an urgent formal request to award the two responding police officers honorary citizen titles for their bravery. The city’s iconic Main Market Square reopened to the public on Sunday evening after authorities fully lifted the security cordon and completed on-site investigations.
Surgeon having lunch near Krakow shooting undoubtedly saved officer’s life, colleague says
