Paramedic stabbed to death outside Sydney McDonald’s identified

A paramedic was nearing the end of his shift when he was set upon by a stranger and stabbed to death at a Sydney McDonald’s in what is now one of the darkest days for the ambulance service.

Steven Tougher was with a colleague stopping for a break at the Campbelltown McDonald’s, in Sydney‘s south-west, when the 29-year-old father was stabbed.

NSW Police were called to the fast food outlet’s carpark on Queen Street around 5.30am after the paramedics made a code one call for assistance.

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Police arrived within minutes and Tougher was taken to Liverpool Hospital where he later died.

Tougher married the love of his life just last month and was excited to raise his young family in south-west Sydney after finally landing his dream job in the area.

He had been in the service for about 12 months.

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“This is a young man who his father tells me from the age of five years old knew that he wanted to be a NSW paramedic,” NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said.

“He wanted nothing more than to serve his community.”

Morgan said it was an extremely difficult time for the paramedic’s young family and the broader NSW Ambulance service as a whole.

“This is a time of recognising and grieving with the paramedic’s colleagues and family at a very difficult time.”

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NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce spoke through tears of the “incomprehensible” incident.

“The health system is one big family and to lose someone in this way is incomprehensible to us,” she said.

Floral tributes have grown at the scene as fellow paramedics mourn the loss of one of their own.

“Everyone in the area is feeling it,” paramedic Wayne Havenaar said.

“Many of our people are young people with kids of their own and this is really hurting them.”

One message at the site read: “He has paid the ultimate price for being a caring, brave soul devoting his life to saving and serving those in need.”

The grief isn’t only being felt in the Sydney community but across the country.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Tougher’s death as “shocking” and “tragic”.

“NSW has lost a young paramedic, a young man whose life was in front of him,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said. 

Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the 21-year-old suspect was in custody and there was “very good” CCTV of the entire area.

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“The thoughts and sympathies of NSW Police are with the family of that officer and the entire ambulance family,” Lanyon said.

Lanyon said the man was known to police but only for “minor offences”.

He said they were investigating the suspect’s background.

“We have received information that the man we have arrested may have been driving in the Ingleburn and Campbelltown in a blue coloured Honda Jazz,” he said.

Police are asking anyone with information to come forward.

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