A male model from New York City suffered severe disfigurement after being attacked by an individual wielding a knife while defending two women from a brutal assault during his vacation in Germany.

John Rudat, 21, experienced a bloody and violent confrontation as he attempted to shield two individuals from a violent attack on public transit in Dresden, Germany, on Sunday, according to a GoFundMe page set up by his brother’s girlfriend, Molly Sheldon.

The young model, who is also a paramedic, sustained a critical gash in the middle of his face from a six-inch blade. 

Disturbing video footage from after the attack captures Rudat using a tissue to stop the bleeding from his face, with a trail of blood marking his path. Another video reveals a significant cut across his nose.

Other passengers appeared shell-shocked after witnessing the gory ordeal. 

Rudat needed immediate medical attention and underwent extensive surgery in Germany.  

Law enforcement officials said there were two attackers. They were both reportedly Syrian nationals. 

One of these men was detained after the violent incident on suspicion of beating Rudat but was released shortly after. 

‘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 outlet Bild.

The other suspect, who is believed to have actually stabbed Rudat, is still on the loose. 

‘This horrible act against John leaves us devastated and seeking justice. He now faces a challenging recovery; physically, emotionally, and even financially as he works to heal from this incident,’ Sheldon wrote. 

So far, the fundraiser created to support Rudat and his family has collected more than $32,500. 

Rudat was visiting Dresden to see his former foreign exchange host family, according to The New York Post. 

In a video retelling of the shocking attack, Rudat claimed the migrant who attacked him and the two women was a drug dealer ‘very popularly known’ in the area. 

When his loved ones received the gut-wrenching call that he had been involved in the harrowing incident, they feared for the worst. 

‘We got a little scared when we found out,’ Sheldon told The Post. 

‘We didn’t know the extent of his injuries. We were at dinner the other day and he called saying, “Hey, I’ve been in an incident, I’m OK, just if you can notify my parents because they weren’t answering the phone.”‘

Rudat’s brother and Sheldon’s boyfriend, Logan, said he was not surprised that his brother put himself at risk to protect others. 

‘It’s part of his character. That’s just the way we were raised,’ Logan, who is also a first responder, told the outlet, adding he is optimistic that Rudat will be able to return to the US in a week or two. 

While reflecting on the incident on his Instagram story, Rudat wrote: ‘Never turn your back on abuse.’