The life story of a courageous Polish woman who survived being shot by the Nazis looks set to be turned into a book by her family.

Krystyna Zawistowicz, of Wyke, has lost her battle with cancer at the age of 83, but her family are determined not to let the story of her bravery as a teenager in war-torn Warsaw die with her.

When she was 13 she took part in the Warsaw Uprising, helping the resistance fighters. It was one day while she was running a message from the Jewish Ghetto that she was shot straight through the shoulder by a Nazi gun – and lived to tell the tale.

“It went straight through miraculously,” said her son, Waldemar.

“We are thinking of writing a book about her life story now.”

The young Krystyna was eventually taken prisoner. She was put in two prisoner-of-war camps and was about to be transported to Auschwitz when she was saved by the Liberation.

Allies took her to Italy, but she was later brought with other refugees to the UK where she met her husband and moved to Bradford to work in the mills.

Mrs Zawistowicz, a devout Catholic – who was awarded the Polish Cross of Valour for her courage in the war years and the part she heroically played – was selfless to the end said her son.

He said: “Mum was totally selfless, she always put other people first and got more pleasure out of giving than receiving. She had a good sense of humour and loved company.”

Living in Bradford she became an accomplished artist producing hundreds of paintings.

She was also a teacher in the city’s Polish School during the 1950s and 60s and was a member of a Polish choir.

She has another son and daughter, eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Her funeral was held at St Winefride’s Roman Catholic Church, Wibsey, yesterday and donations were taken in her memory for Cancer Research UK.