One of the city's most recognisable figures passed away in hospital on Friday 13th of August 2010 following a stroke. Below is the text about him written in 2008. He will be missed by the people at Gdansk In Your Pocket.

As you wander around the streets of the old town you are likely to find yourself coming face to face with a rather rotund and jovial pirate. Don’t be alarmed. This is not a real robber of the high seas or even for that matter someone on their way to a fancy dress party. This man is Andrzej Sulewski, otherwise known as Pirat Andrzej (Pirate Andrew). For the last 19 years Mr. Sulewski has been roaming the streets of Gdańsk having his picture taken, stamping his autograph on hands and bits of paper, fighting imaginary foes and being generally eccentric. As he told us when we crossed his palm with silver, he felt that with Warsaw having its mermaid and Krakow its lajkonik, Gdańsk needed a symbol. Previously financed by the donations of tourists, for the past few years he has been employed part-time by the local government and represents Gdańsk at trade fairs and exhibitions all over Europe. Not averse to taking donations still for a glass or rum or whatever it is a Polish pirate drinks, you will find him wandering the streets around ul. Dluga and the waterfront throughout the season.