“Of course we were afraid.” Krakow surgeons tell how they came to the rescue

Six people died and 16 were injured after 24-year-old Michał O. drove a black Subaru onto the Main Square in Krakow on Saturday and opened fire on random passers-by.

It was a mass casualty situation. Very difficult, because not in one place, but in several places at one time. (...) In my opinion, with such a complicated rescue operation and so many victims, all services acted in an exemplary manner and only thanks to this there were no more victims - said on Sunday in Krakow, Dr. Mateusz Wierdak, a trauma surgeon who provided aid to the injured during Saturday's attack.

He was with his family at a nearby restaurant during the incident. Prof. was also there. Michał Pędziwiatr, surgeon. They both reported that after hearing the shots, they rushed to help the injured.

When asked by journalists whether they were not afraid to go to the scene of the incident, prof. Road Runner replied: "Of course we were afraid, but we didn't think about it." There was fear, but we work under stress, so we somehow cope with it - added Dr. Wierdak.

The doctors emphasized that the "silent heroes" are all the medics who sacrificed their free time on Saturday and were on extra duty.

There were people who arrived at the University Hospital and in all hospitals in Krakow: nurses and doctors. And they deserve thanks. The number of surgical teams in Krakow hospitals was higher than the number of victims who came to the hospitals. So we were ready to accept perhaps more (injured people), if there were any, and this should be emphasized - said Prof. Roadrunner.

"We did what we knew how to do"

As the surgeons said, together with the police and passers-by, they were involved in providing first aid to the injured, using, among others, from first aid kits given to them by officers from police cars.

When one of the doctors announced that he was a trauma surgeon, the officers delegated the coordination of medical activities to him and focused on securing the area.

Doctors said some passers-by claimed there were two attackers and others said there were even more. There were four injured people there. (…) We didn't see any masked or hooded bandits, so there was some consternation. However, we were not there to chase these criminals, but to provide help, so we did what we knew how - reported Dr. Wierdak.

He added that the sight of the injured triggered "learned strategies" in the doctors. If we have a patient who has been shot, we first need to assess where the bleeding is coming from and try to stop the bleeding. The second thing that is very important is (...) protecting the patient against hypothermia - he explained.

Shooting in the center of Krakow

Dramatic events took place in the center of Krakow on Saturday after 3 p.m. A masked man drove a black Subaru into the Main Square and then started shooting at random people.

The car moved through the city center until the intersection of Dietla and Stradomska streets, where it collided with another vehicle. Then there was an exchange of fire with the police. Two officers and the attacker were injured.