Who is John Rudat? NY Model Injured While Protecting Women in German Tram

John Rudat, a 21-year-old model and paramedic from New York, was seriously injured after a knife attack on a tram in Dresden, Germany, local media reported. According to reports, Rudat suffered a deep cut on his face while defending several women from harassment during the incident in the early hours of Sunday, August 24. Police later apprehended one suspect, though the attacker remains at large.

Rudat, originally from Niskayuna, New York, has a diverse background. In an interview, he described himself as both a paramedic and a model. He trained in judo for nearly a decade at the Jason Morris Judo Center in Schenectady County and also studied Bushido for five years. An artist and fan of ’80s American rock, Rudat shared, “When I’m not on fashion runways, I’m walking patients into trauma bays. I am a Paramedic… I am also an artist and I carve masks for shamans around the world.”

At age 17, Rudat moved to Dresden to live with his German father, working with the local fire brigade and pursuing MMA bouts. Reflecting on his time in Europe, he said, “It was an incredible and transformative experience and deeply established my love for Germany and the new families I joined there.”

Following the attack, a GoFundMe campaign launched by Molly Sheldon, his brother’s girlfriend, has raised over $40,000 for medical treatment. She wrote, “John sustained critical injuries… including a deep facial wound from a 6-inch blade, requiring immediate and extensive surgery in Germany.”

Calling him a “kind, selfless soul,” Sheldon urged support as Rudat faces a difficult recovery. His brother, Logan Rudat, also praised him, saying, “I would have been surprised if he hadn’t stepped in… It’s part of his character. That’s just the way we were raised.”

Police confirmed the attack occurred around 12:25 am on tram line 7. While one suspect has been detained, the primary assailant remains on the run.