Surgeons and Bystanders Credited with Saving Lives After Fatal Krakow Shooting
Off-duty medical professionals and bystanders rushed to provide emergency care following a mass shooting in central Krakow, Poland, on Saturday, with one surgeon credited with saving the life of a critically wounded police officer. The attack, which left six people dead and 15 others injured, took place near the city's historic Main Market Square shortly before 15:00 local time (14:00 GMT).
Professor Michal Pędziwiatr and Dr Mateusz Wierdak were having lunch nearby with their families when the shooting began. Pędziwiatr, who serves as the head of General, Oncological, Metabolic and Emergency Surgery at the University Hospital in Krakow, stated that his son alerted him to the danger after seeing people falling to the ground. Upon arriving at the scene, the two doctors provided medical treatment to both the victims and the suspect.
While Pędziwiatr attended to the suspect and other injured bystanders, Wierdak treated a police officer who had sustained a severe gunshot wound to the chest during a gunfight with the perpetrator. Pędziwiatr told media outlet Fakt that Wierdak placed bandages directly into the officer's chest wound while waiting for emergency services to arrive. Pędziwiatr also contacted the John Paul II Hospital, urging that the officer be taken to its Department of Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery due to the specialized nature of the injury.
Police Officers Emerge from Comas Following Rampage
The two responding police officers, identified as senior constables Jakub Kulik and Artur Morański, were injured while subduing the gunman. Both officers emerged from comas on Sunday. Poland's Prime Minister praised the pair as "true heroes" for preventing further casualties, while the Mayor of Krakow submitted an urgent request to grant both officers titles of honorary citizenship.
Authorities reported that the shooting lasted approximately three minutes. Video footage showed the suspect driving a vehicle at high speed through the city centre as people fled. Bullets shattered shop windows and struck a nearby tram during the incident. Main Market Square was cordoned off for investigation before being reopened on Sunday evening.
In addition to the off-duty surgeons, six Dublin Civil Defence volunteers on a city break in Krakow assisted at the scene. Officer James McConnell told RTE News that the group immediately provided CPR and hemorrhage control to the wounded after hearing the gunfire near the square.
Investigation Points to Far-Right Motivation
The victims killed in the attack include four Polish citizens, a British national, and an Austrian woman. The 24-year-old Polish suspect remains in critical condition and has not yet been publicly named by authorities. When law enforcement searched the suspect's residence following the incident, they discovered the bodies of his parents and sister.
The National Public Prosecutor's Office in Poland has launched an investigation led by a specialized unit handling terrorist offenses. Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński stated that preliminary evidence suggests the suspect held ultra-nationalist views and was fascinated by far-right ideologies. Although the perpetrator was wearing full military tactical gear and carried a military-grade weapon, government officials confirmed he was not a member of the Polish armed forces.
Witnesses Describe Chaos in Central Krakow
Bystanders near the Main Market Square described scenes of panic as the shooting unfolded. Ruby Catherine Warren, a visitor from London, reported hearing gunfire and sprinting with friends to seek shelter inside a nearby hotel.
Another witness, Tom Brook from West Yorkshire, was inside a restaurant near the square when he heard multiple gunshots. Upon stepping outside, he observed paramedics treating an injured individual while a deceased victim lay nearby covered in foil blankets.
