There have been emotional tributes for a 29-year-old paramedic who died in a Sydney hospital after being stabbed in an early morning attack at a fast-food restaurant in the city’s south-west.
Police were called to the McDonald’s on Queen Street in Campbelltown at 5.30am on Friday to find the man suffering from stab wounds.
He was reportedly on a break, waiting for coffee, when he was attacked. Police had to taser his accused attacker before the paramedic’s partner could render assistance and call for help.
“On arrival police were confronted by a 21-year-old man from Raby, who was armed with a knife,” NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon said.
“In order to render assistance to paramedics on the scene, police were forced to use a taser and subsequently arrested that 21-year-old male.”
The man was taken to Liverpool Hospital for treatment but died of his injuries later on Friday morning.
The 21-year-old man was taken to Campbelltown Police Station for questioning. He was still assisting police later on Friday.
Officers have established a crime scene and a homicide investigation is under way.
NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said the man’s death was a tragic loss.
“You can imagine this is an extremely difficult time for his young family and the NSW Ambulance broader family,” he said.
The paramedic’s father told Mr Morgan that his son had dreamed of working as a paramedic since he was a young boy. He had been in the job about 12 months, being posted back to south-west Sydney only recently – where he had plans to start a family with his wife.
“He wanted nothing more than to serve his community. This is a time of recognising and grieving with the paramedic’s colleagues and family at a very difficult time,” Mr Morgan said.
He said the man’s parents, wife and sister were “beside themselves after this tragic loss”.
“Personally, it’s very difficult to process any person just going to work to do their job, let alone a paramedic who puts themselves on the line, to not come home is a tragedy and almost inconceivable to work through on any level,” he said.
NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce wept as she paid tribute to the man and his team.
“I’d like to extend my deepest condolences to the loved ones, the wife and family of our paramedic,” she said.
“The health system is one big family and to lose someone in this way is incomprehensible to us.”
Speaking before the man’s death, NSW Premier Chris Minns said the incident was a reminder of the job’s dangers.
“It’s a reminder that it is a very dangerous and difficult job that requires enormous courage to put on that uniform every day and serve the people of NSW,” he said.
“My thoughts are with every paramedic in NSW.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also paid tribute, describing the man’s death as as “shocking as it is tragic”.
“To every front-line worker, you are valued. You keep us safe. You deserve to be safe at work,” he said in a social media post.
No charges have yet been laid.
Police have asked for people who saw a blue Honda Jazz sedan in the Ingleburn area before Friday’s incident to contact them. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
– with AAP
