From Tragedy to Strength: Mateusz’s Story of Survival and Movement
Mateusz Pędziwiatr went through something few of us can imagine. Over a decade ago, a night out took an unexpected and life-changing turn.
"I had an accident 12 and a half years ago years ago. I was run over by a train," he told us. Coming home after a party, he got off two stations too early and decided to walk along the tracks. At one point, he had to climb over a pile of coal. He slipped, hit his head, and lost consciousness. What happened next changed everything.
"I woke up to a train running over my right leg and dragging me for dozens of meters. I lost my right arm trying to push away from the train."
Despite severe injuries to both legs, doctors were able to save his left one. "That night, there were three accidents on the tracks. I was the only one who survived. So I always say it’s happiness in misfortune."
It’s hard to imagine finding light in a moment like that, but that’s exactly what Mateusz did. Just a month after the accident, he was already focusing on recovery. He started helping other amputees in the hospital, motivating them to keep going and to see things in brighter colors.
When he returned to the gym, he noticed something else. People around him were watching and they were inspired. "I realized I can also motivate people just by showing up and working out. Two birds with one stone." And that’s exactly what he continues to do today: training, moving, and pushing himself, always forward.
At Levitate, we’re glad our prosthetics could be part of Mateusz’s journey as he continues to train and inspire other amputees.
Big shoutout to his wife, who filmed his workouts and helped put it all together. These small moments of support build something much bigger.
