A 21-year-old New York City model and paramedic suffered severe facial injuries after intervening to protect two women from attackers on public transportation in Dresden, Germany.

John Rudat sustained a critical wound across his face from a six-inch blade during the Sunday incident while trying to stop what witnesses described as a violent assault on the victims. The attack left Rudat requiring immediate surgery and extensive medical treatment at a German hospital.

According to a GoFundMe campaign organized by Molly Sheldon, the girlfriend of Rudat’s brother, the young first responder was visiting his former exchange host family when the incident occurred. Video footage from the scene shows Rudat holding tissue to his bloodied face, with a deep gash visible across his nose.

German authorities report that two Syrian nationals were involved in the attack. While one suspect was briefly detained on suspicion of assault before being released due to insufficient evidence, the individual believed to have wielded the knife remains at large.

“According to the on-call public prosecutor’s assessment, there were insufficient grounds for detention. The knife attack cannot be attributed to him,” Senior Public Prosecutor Jurgen Schmidt told German media outlet Bild.

The fundraising campaign, which has raised over $32,500 to support Rudat’s recovery, describes the financial and emotional challenges he now faces. In recounting the attack, Rudat claimed the assailant was a known drug dealer in the area.

Logan Rudat, John’s brother and fellow first responder, expressed little surprise at his sibling’s actions. “It’s part of his character. That’s just the way we were raised,” he told The New York Post, adding optimism that John could return to the United States within weeks.

The family initially feared the worst when they received news of the incident during dinner. “We didn’t know the extent of his injuries,” Sheldon recalled, describing how John had called to inform them he was okay and asked them to contact his parents.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience through his Instagram story, Rudat shared a simple but powerful message: “Never turn your back on abuse.”

The case highlights ongoing concerns about public safety on European transit systems, while one suspect remains unaccounted for in the ongoing investigation.