Prof. Michał Pędziwiatr and Dr Mateusz Wierdak from the University Hospital in Kraków happened to be near Saturday’s shooting at Dietla and Stradomska streets. A hospital spokeswoman confirmed they had been there for lunch.
Lunch with families at a nearby restaurant
According to University Hospital spokeswoman Maria Włodkowska, the two surgeons were in the area purely by chance. They were having lunch with their families at a restaurant right at the intersection of Dietla and Stradomska streets, where police officers exchanged fire with the attacker. Prof. Pędziwiatr described being there with his wife and four children, while Dr Wierdak was there with his wife and three children.
Help on the street
Instead of moving away, the doctors went to those who had been hurt. According to accounts published after the incident, two police officers, the attacker and another man needed help. The surgeons assessed their condition and dealt with heavy bleeding. They worked alongside officers and other people providing aid. Dr Wierdak covered an injured police officer with his coat because the man was badly chilled.
Prof. Pędziwiatr contacted the St. John Paul II Hospital so that one of the police officers could quickly receive specialist treatment. The other wounded were taken to other Kraków facilities, including the Rydygier Hospital.
Who the doctors are
Prof. Michał Pędziwiatr, MD, PhD, heads the 2nd Department of Surgery of the Jagiellonian University (UJ) and the Clinical Department of General, Oncological, Metabolic and Emergency Surgery at the University Hospital. Dr Mateusz Wierdak, MD, PhD, is a graduate of the Jagiellonian University Medical College (Collegium Medicum) and a general surgery specialist, working in metabolic, bariatric and laparoscopic surgery, among other areas. Both are listed among the staff of the 2nd Department of Surgery.
According to findings by the tabloid „Fakt”, Prof. Pędziwiatr later took part in surgery on one of the injured police officers at the hospital; this information has not been officially confirmed.
Background to the events
The shooting at Dietla and Stradomska streets was another stage of Saturday’s attack. Earlier, a man fired from a car on the Main Market Square in Kraków. Prime Minister Donald Tusk spoke of an attack and, overnight from Saturday to Sunday, praised the “heroism of the police officers,” the dedication of medical rescue workers and the conduct of bystanders.
