The London Ambulance Service’s top official has paid tribute to a Sydney paramedic who was fatally stabbed on the job.
Steven Tougher, a 29-year-old father, was nearing the end of his shift when he was stabbed in a Sydney McDonald’s while on a break.
The horrific incident at around 5.30am Friday has shocked the emergency services in Australia and further afield, with London ambulance CEO, Daniel Elkeles, paying his respects.
“I would like to express our deepest condolences to Steven’s family, friends and the ambulance service community in North South Wales,” he said.
“Our staff at [the London Ambulance Service] stand in solidarity with [New South Wales Ambulance].”
I would like to express our deepest condolences to Steven’s family, friends and the ambulance service community in North South Wales.
— Daniel Elkeles (@danielelkeles) April 14, 2023
Our staff at @Ldn_Ambulance stand in solidary with @NSWAmbulance https://t.co/mdtOYhQF94
According to local media reports, Mr Tougher married his wife Madison just last month and had been excited to raise his family in south-west Sydney after landing a job with the ambulance service around a year ago.
NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said on Friday afternoon that Mr Tougher’s colleagues had “valiantly worked to resuscitate and save their paramedic colleague’s life”.
Officers were confronted a man by a man with a knife at the scene and had to taser him to assist the injured paramedic.
In comments reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, Commissioner Morgan said: “They had worked through the night shift and had just finished a case at the local hospital, and were literally just grabbing some sustenance as any person would expect that they would do and going about their job.
“Any person just going to work to do their job, let alone a paramedic who puts themselves on the line for the community, to not come home is a tragedy and almost inconceivable to work through at any level.”
Floral tributes have been left at the scene by mourners, including fellow emergency workers.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Mr Tougher’s death as “shocking” and “tragic”.
A 21-year-old man has been charged with the murder of the stabbed paramedic.
The accused from Raby in Sydney’s south-west was arrested and taken in for questioning.
He has been refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court, in the west of Sydney, on Saturday.
