Surgeon having lunch near Krakow shooting undoubtedly saved officer's life, colleague says

One of the two surgeons who rushed to save lives in the aftermath of a mass shooting in Poland notes his colleague ceased the bleeding of the police officer, "undoubtedly" saving his life.

Key points

• Pędziwiatr remarked he called John Paul II Hospital where the Department of Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery is located.
• Professor Michal Pędziwiatr and Dr Mateusz Wierdak were having lunch in central Krakow with their families when they heard gunshots, local media reports.
• The National Public Prosecutor's Office in Poland is launching an investigation into the attack with a unit specialising in "terrorist offences" taking the lead.
• "Suddenly my son ran up and said: 'Dad, they're shooting at people there, people are falling to the ground', " Pędziwiatr informed news outlet Fakt.
• Separately, six Dublin Civil Defence volunteers reportedly additionally assisted in the aftermath of the shooting.

Pędziwiatr remarked when they secured to the scene, they treated both the apparent attacker and the police officers.

"When it comes to saving lives, it doesn't matter who is who."

Police are continuing to investigate Saturday's incident after six individuals were killed in the Krakow's market square. Sixteen more were injured, including Senior Police Constables Jakub Kulik and Artur Morański.

Three other bodies were discovered in the alleged gunman's apartment who were identified by police as the suspect's parents and sister. Wounded police officers 'saved plenty of lives'.

While Wierdak began working on the police officer who was shot in the chest during the gunfight, once the shooting halted, Pędziwiatr stated he took care of the other victims and the apparent perpetrator who needed support.

"He, to put it colloquially, stuffed all the bandages into chest and stuck his hands in, " he informed Fakt.

"If not for that, I don't know how things would have turned out, as there was a long wait for the ambulance".

Meanwhile, Pędziwiatr remarked he called John Paul II Hospital where the Department of Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery is located.

"I insisted they take him there because, in my opinion, he had the best chance of survival there, where there were specialists for precisely this type of injury, " he informed Fakt.

According to local media, Wierdak is a renowned surgeon in Krakow. The University Hospital in Krakow states Pędziwiatr is head of General, Oncological, Metabolic and Emergency Surgery.

Four women and two men were among those killed, including four polish nationals, a British man and a non-Polish citizen whose nationality has not yet been disclosed.

Meanwhile, the National Public Prosecutor's Office in Poland is launching an investigation into the attack with a unit specialising in "terrorist offences" taking the lead.

James McConnell, an officer, informed RTE News the group were on a city break and were close to the main square, external when the shooting happened.

In practice, the volunteers who are trained to provide medical care immediately sought to support injured residents, providing "CPR and haemorrhage control".

In short, surgeon having lunch near Krakow shooting undoubtedly saved officer' s life, colleague says is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.