Paramedic dies after stabbing outside Campbelltown McDonald’s

The head of NSW Health fought tears as she spoke of the death of a young father and paramedic fatally stabbed as he sat in his ambulance nearing the end of his shift. His alleged attacker is known to police and is in custody.

A NSW Ambulance paramedic and young father has tragically lost his life after he was stabbed as he sat in his own ambulance at a southwest Sydney McDonald’s.

The 29-year-old male paramedic died at Liverpool Hospital after the horrific incident at McDonald’s on Queen St in Campbelltown, despite the desperate efforts of his own colleagues and surgeons at the hospital.

A 21-year-old Raby man is now in custody, with police alleging he was still armed with the knife he used to stab the paramedic when they arrived at the scene.

The man — who is known to police — had to be subdued with a taser and now remains at Campbelltown police station as officers continue gathering evidence.

NSW Health secretary Susan Pearce was overcome with emotion when she addressed media about the appalling tragedy.

The paramedic was rushed to Liverpool Hospital. Picture: TNV

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

“Our health system has been through a lot of these past three years, and as the head of the health system, I am proud of every single staff member who, every single day, presents to serve their community and to put themselves on the line for their community.”

NSW Health secretary Susan Pearce was overcome with emotion as she addressed media.

NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said it was an extremely difficult time for the fallen paramedic’s young family and his NSW Ambulance colleagues.

The man’s family has asked that he not be identified until relatives and friends can be notified of his tragic death, but the paramedic was a 29-year-old father who had been a paramedic for about 12 months and was attached to NSW Ambulance’s southwest Sydney team.

It is understood the man and his co-worker were getting food near the end of their night shift when the horrifying attack occurred.

“I had the privilege of meeting with his mother and father, his wife and sister, who, as you can imagine, are just beside themselves with this tragic loss,” Commissioner Morgan said.

An emotional NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan, right, at the press conference. Picture: Tim Hunter.

FRANTIC EFFORTS TO SAVE COLLEAGUE

“I have such respect for the way that they are working through their grief, and am wishing such great things for the man’s paramedic colleagues who valiantly worked to resuscitate and save their paramedic colleague’s life — unfortunately, it was not to be.”

Commissioner Morgan said the paramedic had only recently been posted “back” to southwest Sydney.

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

“He wanted nothing more than to serve his community, I’m told he was just so pleased that he was going to be able to stay here with his family, bring up his children, and look forward to being in the area he lived in and loved.”

Commissioner Morgan said extensive support was being provided to the man’s partner who was in the ambulance and pressed the duress button summoning police, and other paramedics, police officers and onlookers who assisted in the horrific aftermath of the stabbing.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon said a motive was yet to be identified in the seemingly random attack.

He appealed to the community for any information or footage they may have in relation to the belief the man in custody was driving around the Ingleburn and Campbelltown areas in the early hours of the morning in a blue Honda Jazz sedan.

ATTACK ‘ABSOLUTELY RANDOM’

Emergency services are still combing a southwest Sydney McDonald’s where the paramedic was stabbed to death on Friday morning.

Police announced his death about 11.20am. Sources say the paramedic was in the back of the ambulance doing paperwork when his attacker pulled open the sliding door and stabbed him multiple times.

“It was just absolutely random and we are all bloody devastated,” the source said.

Police remained at the scene into Friday afternoon. Picture: TNV

As the news hit a shocked community social media influencer and southwest Sydney/Liverpool paramedic Gaby Dun took to social media in grief and frustration.

“As if this job isn’t hard enough,” she began.

‘UNDERPAID, UNDERVALUED’

“We are underpaid, undervalued and constantly at risk. It could have been any one of us, just doing our job as normal, when tragedy struck.

“We are big organisation but we are like family, and this shakes us to the core.

“My heart aches for everyone involved.”

Residents of the area have stated their fears for community safety in Campbelltown following the incident.

“It’s not too safe if something happens like that,” Brett from St Helens Park said.

“It’s no good for the paramedic, I don’t feel safe at all in this community with the way that things are going here.

EARLY MORNING ATTACK

Police were called to the fast food restaurant about 5.30am, after reports the male paramedic had sustained multiple stab wounds to the stomach.

He was in a critical condition after also going into cardiac arrest at the scene but died later in hospital.

Pools of blood could be seen in the car park as police taped off the area.

Another man, 21, was arrested at the scene and taken to Campbelltown Police Station, where he is currently assisting police with inquiries.

A crime scene has been established, which will be forensically examined by specialist officers.

Members of the public were urged to avoid the area.

‘SAD DAY FOR NSW’

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the paramedic’s death was a sad day for NSW.

“I need to confirm that NSW has lost a young paramedic, a young man who’s life was in front of him,” Mr Minns said.

“He hasn’t made it and obviously our hearts go out to him and his family and all the paramedics in NSW.”

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said “our community has lost one of its very special frontline workers in circumstance’s that are simply beyond comprehension”.

“My deepest condolences are extended to the family and friends who are dealing with a loss that no doubt seems unimaginable at the moment,” he told the Saturday Telegraph.

“Our paramedics have been some of the heroes of the pandemic over the last few years and to have one of their own lose their life in this way is without a doubt a heavy burden for all of them to carry and my thoughts are with our paramedics and emergency call responders across NSW.

“I have had a number of discussions with Commissioner Morgan and the Secretary Susan Pearce and collectively as a health family we will wrap all available resources and support around the family and colleagues over the coming days, weeks and months.

“Today is a tragic day for the people of NSW and a reminder of the dangers our emergency service personnel can confront every day.”

Anyone with information is urged to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.