Police in Sopot rescue disabled man trapped for eight hours inside closed cemetery

Disappearance and emergency response

On the evening of Friday, 2 October 2026, the municipal police headquarters in Sopot received an urgent missing person report shortly before 21:00. Relatives had reported losing contact with a 53-year-old man who had not returned home after heading to the local necropolis earlier in the day. The duty officer at the Sopot command immediately assigned an emergency patrol unit to inspect the cemetery premises. By the time the patrol reached the site, the cemetery was already officially closed, entirely deserted, and plunged into dense darkness. Rapidly declining evening temperatures and the lack of illumination created challenging search conditions for the responding officers, who had to cover extensive ground quickly.

Foot patrol search inside the necropolis

The dispatched search team consisted of Junior Aspirant Radosław Kotwicki and Sergeant Anna Składanowska, who entered the grounds on foot to conduct a section-by-section inspection. Moving through the dark rows of graves in total silence, the officers paused repeatedly to listen for any signs of human presence. In the quiet surroundings, they heard faint cries for assistance echoing from a distance within the necropolis. Both officers ran immediately toward the direction of the voice, locating the missing 53-year-old man stranded among the burial plots. The man had become trapped on the cemetery grounds for approximately eight hours after his mobile telephone battery went dead, cutting off all communication. Due to his physical disability, he had been unable to climb over barriers or find a way off the locked grounds independently.

Medical evaluation and family reunion

Upon locating the stranded man, the officers determined that he was shivering from the cold, physically exhausted, and without access to food or drinking water throughout his entire ordeal. The patrol immediately summoned a specialised emergency medical rescue team to evaluate his vital signs and provide on-site care. Sopot police representatives subsequently summarized the critical circumstances surrounding the rescue operation.

The 53-year-old had been at the cemetery for about eight hours. He was cold and tired, and had not eaten or drunk anything during that time. His phone had run out of battery, so he could not contact anyone. Due to his disability, he could not get out on his own.

Attending paramedics completed a thorough on-site medical examination and confirmed that the man had not suffered injuries requiring immediate hospital admission. Once cleared by emergency medical personnel, the man was escorted from the necropolis and returned safely into the direct care of his family.

Safety appeal regarding autumn weather risks

Following the successful intervention, the Sopot municipal police department issued a public appeal urging residents to maintain vigilance regarding vulnerable individuals. Junior Aspirant Radosław Jaśkiewicz pointed out that autumn weather patterns present heightened safety risks as daylight hours shorten and outdoor temperatures drop sharply after dusk. Police noted that spending extended hours outdoors in low temperatures poses severe risks to elderly individuals, people with chronic medical conditions, and persons with disabilities. Law enforcement officials reminded the public not to remain indifferent when encountering someone who appears disoriented or trapped, and urged immediate calls to the emergency telephone number 112 whenever health or life may be endangered.