Polish child actor Nikodem Marecki died at age 11 following a collision with a vehicle as he exited his school bus in Szczepanowice, a village near Kraków, Poland, on Nov. 26, 2025. The young performer, known for his roles in the 2024 war film “White Courage” and the Netflix horror series “Cracow Monsters,” passed away the day after the incident despite emergency medical intervention.
Emergency services received notification of the collision at 2:03 p.m. and immediately dispatched units to the scene. A fire department spokesperson described the initial response, stating the report indicated it involved a young person who remained conscious at the scene. The nature of the incident prompted authorities to call in the Polish Air Rescue Service, whose officers secured a landing area to facilitate the efficient transfer of the young person to the hospital by helicopter.
Despite remaining conscious immediately following the collision, Marecki’s condition proved critical. Medical personnel transported him by air ambulance to a hospital facility where he could receive advanced care. However, the injuries sustained in the incident proved fatal, and he died the day after.
The young actor had begun building a promising career in Polish cinema and television. His performance in “White Courage,” a 2024 war film, demonstrated his ability to handle complex dramatic material at a young age. He also appeared in “Cracow Monsters,” a horror series available on Netflix that showcased his versatility as a performer. These roles had positioned him as an emerging talent in Poland’s entertainment industry.
Marcin Koszalka, who directed Marecki in “White Courage,” expressed his grief over the loss of the young actor. The director called Marecki’s death “a terrible, great loss” and praised him as “very talented and the world was opening up for him.” The statement reflected the widespread sense within Poland’s film community that a promising career had been cut short.
The incident occurred in Szczepanowice, a rural area near Kraków, Poland’s second-largest city and a major cultural center. The village setting means local emergency services worked in coordination with specialized air rescue units to provide the rapid medical response required for severe trauma cases. The deployment of helicopter emergency medical services indicates the severity of the situation and the commitment to providing the highest level of care.
The loss resonated throughout Poland’s entertainment community, where Marecki had established himself despite his young age. His work on both a major film production and an international streaming series demonstrated a level of professional achievement uncommon for someone of his age. Industry professionals who worked with him recognized not only his current abilities but also his potential for future growth as an artist.
At 11 years old, Marecki’s life encompassed both the ordinary experiences of childhood and the extraordinary opportunity to contribute to major entertainment productions. The young actor’s tragic death while exiting his school bus highlights the vulnerability of children during daily transportation routines.
