The condition of Senior Constable Artur Morański, wounded in Saturday’s attack on Kraków’s Main Market Square, is improving but remains serious, Prof. Wojciech Szczeklik said on Tuesday. The officer has been taken to the 5th Military Clinical Hospital, where he is scheduled for another surgery on Wednesday.
The transfer of the officer from the Gabriel Narutowicz Municipal Specialist Hospital in Kraków to the military hospital was announced on Tuesday by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
What the doctors said
During Tuesday’s briefing at the 5th Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic, Prof. Wojciech Szczeklik stated that the condition of the 27-year-old officer is stable but generally serious. “This is a patient who has suffered a number of injuries. It is not only the hand, but also a lung injury, which was immediately secured,” he said. He added that “thankfully, his condition is improving.”
The officer is conscious and in contact with staff, and no longer requires assisted breathing with a ventilator. He is being treated in the anaesthesiology and intensive care department. Prof. Szczeklik appealed for calm for the patient after his traumatic experience.
Damaged hand and long treatment
Morański faces multi-stage reconstructive treatment of his forearm. The hospital has facilities for microsurgery and tissue reconstruction. Earlier, at the Narutowicz hospital, the officer underwent an operation lasting about 10 hours, according to doctors, during which the damaged lung and extensive forearm injuries were treated.
Dr Tomasz Sorysz, head of the Trauma and Orthopaedic Department there, explained that no significant damage to nerves or blood vessels was found, but the bones are seriously damaged. A military-grade bullet caused loss of soft tissue and bone. Doctors say a return to full function may take up to several years.
Other injured officers and support
Chief of the National Police, Gen. Marek Boroń, told TVN24 on Tuesday that the injured officers are “recovering,” are in contact with their surroundings and are under the care of specialists, including psychologists; their families are with them.
Morański and his patrol partner, Senior Constable Jakub Kulik, intervened against an armed attacker who was shooting at random people. Morański was shot twice. We previously reported on the appeal for blood for the second officer, and councillor Łukasz Gibała has proposed honorary citizenship of Kraków for both officers.
