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| Man charged with murder over fatal stabbing of 29-year-old paramedic Steven Tougher | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The father of one was stabbed outside Campbelltown McDonald’s while he and a workmate took a break on Friday | |
| A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder after the fatal stabbing of a young ambulance paramedic in Sydney’s south-west, remembered by colleagues as a “true hero” with “big smiles [and] cheeky giggles”. | A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder after the fatal stabbing of a young ambulance paramedic in Sydney’s south-west, remembered by colleagues as a “true hero” with “big smiles [and] cheeky giggles”. |
| Steven Tougher, a 29-year-old father of one, was stabbed outside Campbelltown McDonald’s while he and a workmate took a break towards the end of their night shift about 5.30am on Friday. | Steven Tougher, a 29-year-old father of one, was stabbed outside Campbelltown McDonald’s while he and a workmate took a break towards the end of their night shift about 5.30am on Friday. |
| The colleague activated a duress alarm, sparking a police response in which a younger man wielding a knife was tasered and arrested. | The colleague activated a duress alarm, sparking a police response in which a younger man wielding a knife was tasered and arrested. |
| Homicide detectives later charged a 21-year-old man with murder. | Homicide detectives later charged a 21-year-old man with murder. |
| He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta local court on Saturday. | He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta local court on Saturday. |
| Tougher, who had been working for the ambulance service for about a year, was assisted by witnesses at the scene but died shortly after arriving at Liverpool hospital. | Tougher, who had been working for the ambulance service for about a year, was assisted by witnesses at the scene but died shortly after arriving at Liverpool hospital. |
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| “The surgeons … worked valiantly, albeit futile in this instance, to support our colleague,” the NSW Ambulance commissioner, Dominic Morgan, said. | “The surgeons … worked valiantly, albeit futile in this instance, to support our colleague,” the NSW Ambulance commissioner, Dominic Morgan, said. |
| The slain man’s father said his son always wanted to be a paramedic and had just been posted to south-west Sydney, Morgan said. | The slain man’s father said his son always wanted to be a paramedic and had just been posted to south-west Sydney, Morgan said. |
| “I’ve met with the family and as you can imagine personally, it’s very difficult to process.” | “I’ve met with the family and as you can imagine personally, it’s very difficult to process.” |
| A GoFundMe page set up on Friday afternoon sought support for the paramedic’s partner who is expecting a second child. | A GoFundMe page set up on Friday afternoon sought support for the paramedic’s partner who is expecting a second child. |
| It is understood the recently married couple intended raising their family in south-western Sydney after he recently landed a posting in the area. | It is understood the recently married couple intended raising their family in south-western Sydney after he recently landed a posting in the area. |
| The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association said on Saturday it was “devastated” by the death of Tougher, a paramedic and registered nurse. | The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association said on Saturday it was “devastated” by the death of Tougher, a paramedic and registered nurse. |
| “Our hearts go out to Steven’s family, friends and colleagues who face this awful tragedy,” the union’s general secretary, Shaye Candish, said. | “Our hearts go out to Steven’s family, friends and colleagues who face this awful tragedy,” the union’s general secretary, Shaye Candish, said. |
| “It’s heartbreaking when a healthcare worker doesn’t get to go home. Nurses and paramedics live our lives to help others, this is just senseless.” | “It’s heartbreaking when a healthcare worker doesn’t get to go home. Nurses and paramedics live our lives to help others, this is just senseless.” |
| Emma Gedge, a union councillor and midwife, spoke on behalf of Illawarra staff who worked alongside Tougher, their friend and colleague. | Emma Gedge, a union councillor and midwife, spoke on behalf of Illawarra staff who worked alongside Tougher, their friend and colleague. |
| “A dedicated nurse and staunch union activist, Steven never hesitated to help people, no matter the circumstances,” she said. | “A dedicated nurse and staunch union activist, Steven never hesitated to help people, no matter the circumstances,” she said. |
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| “Steven never stopped advocating for his colleagues and patients. We will never forget his big smiles, cheeky giggles and charismatic personality. | “Steven never stopped advocating for his colleagues and patients. We will never forget his big smiles, cheeky giggles and charismatic personality. |
| “Steven was a true hero with the kindest soul, who worked towards his dream of becoming a paramedic for many years. He was a loving son, partner, father and friend. We are devastated by this senseless loss and send our deepest sympathies to Steven’s family.” | “Steven was a true hero with the kindest soul, who worked towards his dream of becoming a paramedic for many years. He was a loving son, partner, father and friend. We are devastated by this senseless loss and send our deepest sympathies to Steven’s family.” |
| The Charles Sturt University vice-chancellor, Prof Renée Leon, said she was “deeply saddened” to hear of the death of Tougher, who graduated from the university with a degree in paramedicine in 2021. | The Charles Sturt University vice-chancellor, Prof Renée Leon, said she was “deeply saddened” to hear of the death of Tougher, who graduated from the university with a degree in paramedicine in 2021. |
| “Everyone in the Charles Sturt community wishes to express our heartfelt condolences to Steven’s family, friends and those who knew and worked with him at NSW Ambulance,” she said. | “Everyone in the Charles Sturt community wishes to express our heartfelt condolences to Steven’s family, friends and those who knew and worked with him at NSW Ambulance,” she said. |
| “Steven was an active, well-liked and highly respected member of the online student community. | “Steven was an active, well-liked and highly respected member of the online student community. |
| “It is so very terrible for Steven’s life to be tragically ended. Any act of violence towards our dedicated healthcare professionals is unacceptable.” | “It is so very terrible for Steven’s life to be tragically ended. Any act of violence towards our dedicated healthcare professionals is unacceptable.” |
| Tanika Psaila, who studied with Tougher at CSU, remembered him as an “amazing human” who devoted his life to helping others. | Tanika Psaila, who studied with Tougher at CSU, remembered him as an “amazing human” who devoted his life to helping others. |
| “Every assignment, every exam … Steve was there for me, cramming in study, proofreading each other’s work and celebrating our results together,” she wrote on social media. “He was truly a selfless individual.” | “Every assignment, every exam … Steve was there for me, cramming in study, proofreading each other’s work and celebrating our results together,” she wrote on social media. “He was truly a selfless individual.” |
| Paul Harrison, a childhood friend of Tougher, remembered growing up on the same street and creating extreme sport games on his back yard trampoline. | Paul Harrison, a childhood friend of Tougher, remembered growing up on the same street and creating extreme sport games on his back yard trampoline. |
| “Disbelief and devastated are the feelings I still have the morning after hearing about the loss of Steven Tougher,” he wrote on social media. | “Disbelief and devastated are the feelings I still have the morning after hearing about the loss of Steven Tougher,” he wrote on social media. |
| “Seeing Steve’s infectious smile before heading in for surgery a few years back gave me certainty that things were going to be okay.” | “Seeing Steve’s infectious smile before heading in for surgery a few years back gave me certainty that things were going to be okay.” |