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| ‘Always ready with a smile’: family and friends pay tribute to slain paramedic Steven Tougher | ‘Always ready with a smile’: family and friends pay tribute to slain paramedic Steven Tougher |
| (4 months later) | |
| Wife, parents and sister praise the father of one’s compassion, kindness and love for his job as an ambulance paramedic | Wife, parents and sister praise the father of one’s compassion, kindness and love for his job as an ambulance paramedic |
| Steven Tougher has been remembered as a man “always ready with a smile”, who touched and bettered the lives of those around him before his was cut drastically short. | Steven Tougher has been remembered as a man “always ready with a smile”, who touched and bettered the lives of those around him before his was cut drastically short. |
| On Saturday afternoon, Tougher’s wife, Madison, parents Jillian and Jeff, and sister Jess issued a statement on behalf of the family, paying tribute to Tougher’s compassion, kindness and love for his job as an ambulance paramedic. | On Saturday afternoon, Tougher’s wife, Madison, parents Jillian and Jeff, and sister Jess issued a statement on behalf of the family, paying tribute to Tougher’s compassion, kindness and love for his job as an ambulance paramedic. |
| Tougher, a 29-year-old father of one, was stabbed outside Campbelltown McDonald’s in south-west Sydney while he and a workmate took a break towards the end of their night shift about 5.30am on Friday. | Tougher, a 29-year-old father of one, was stabbed outside Campbelltown McDonald’s in south-west Sydney while he and a workmate took a break towards the end of their night shift about 5.30am on Friday. |
| A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder. | A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder. |
| “Steven’s dedication to helping others shone brightest during his work as a NSW ambulance paramedic and previously as a nurse,” the family said. | “Steven’s dedication to helping others shone brightest during his work as a NSW ambulance paramedic and previously as a nurse,” the family said. |
| “But it wasn’t just his medical expertise that made him exceptional – Steven’s compassion touched the lives of so many people. | “But it wasn’t just his medical expertise that made him exceptional – Steven’s compassion touched the lives of so many people. |
| “He had a way of calming fears, offering words of solace, and showing kindness in the midst of chaotic or traumatic events … Steven had an uncanny ability to connect with people, to truly understand their needs, and to provide care with genuine warmth and empathy.” | “He had a way of calming fears, offering words of solace, and showing kindness in the midst of chaotic or traumatic events … Steven had an uncanny ability to connect with people, to truly understand their needs, and to provide care with genuine warmth and empathy.” |
| The family said Steven was “always ready with a smile, a kind word, or a lending hand and brought joy to those around him”, as a much-loved husband, father, son, brother and paramedic. | The family said Steven was “always ready with a smile, a kind word, or a lending hand and brought joy to those around him”, as a much-loved husband, father, son, brother and paramedic. |
| 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. |
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| Shepley Dana, a close friend of the family, remembered her son celebrating Tougher’s wedding mere weeks ago when he attended as the best man. | Shepley Dana, a close friend of the family, remembered her son celebrating Tougher’s wedding mere weeks ago when he attended as the best man. |
| “I’ve never known anyone so excited about having his beautiful little family growing by one in a few weeks,” she posted on social media. | “I’ve never known anyone so excited about having his beautiful little family growing by one in a few weeks,” she posted on social media. |
| “To say devastated isn’t a big enough word … may your love and light stay with all of us.” | “To say devastated isn’t a big enough word … may your love and light stay with all of us.” |
| Emma Gedge, a NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association councillor and midwife, spoke on behalf of Illawarra staff who worked alongside Tougher, their friend and colleague. | Emma Gedge, a NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association 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. |
| “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. |
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| “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. |
| 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.” |
| Steph Wells, an enrolled nurse at NSW Health, posted a tribute to Tougher on social media. | Steph Wells, an enrolled nurse at NSW Health, posted a tribute to Tougher on social media. |
| “I am utterly shocked,” she wrote. | “I am utterly shocked,” she wrote. |
| “I remember our days as you being a cadet, being that absolute keen bean wanting to take over patients and being involved as much as possible – to finally becoming a nurse and then paramedic as your dream job became true.” | “I remember our days as you being a cadet, being that absolute keen bean wanting to take over patients and being involved as much as possible – to finally becoming a nurse and then paramedic as your dream job became true.” |
| 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.” |
| The family has requested privacy as they come to terms with their loss. | The family has requested privacy as they come to terms with their loss. |
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