Community heartbreak for recently married paramedic with young son
The family of paramedic Steven Tougher, who was fatally stabbed on Friday, has released a statement on a husband, father, son and brother, who was a man of compassion and empathy.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Fatally stabbed paramedic Steve Tougher’s family have thanked his ambulance colleagues and the greater community for the love and support they had received since Friday’s tragedy.
In a statement issued through NSW Police, Mr Tougher’s wife Madison, along with his parents, Jillian and Jeff, and sister, Jess, said: “Steven’s dedication to helping others shone brightest during his work as a NSW Ambulance paramedic and previously as a nurse”.
“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 was always ready with a smile, a kind word, or a lending hand and brought joy to those around him.
“While we are still grieving our much-loved husband, father, son, and brother, we are thankful for all the love and support we’ve received from his NSW Ambulance colleagues, his closest friends and family, the greater NSW Health family, NSW Police, and members of the community.
“As we are still coming to terms with our loss, our family requests privacy at this time.”
Community unites in mourning
Flowers are adorning the Campbelltown McDonald’s car park site of Friday’s fatal paramedic stabbing, as the local and ambulance communities rally together to honour Steven Tougher.
Among a score of flowers was a NSW Ambulance hat and a stethoscope draped over a fence at the makeshift memorial for the young dad.
People from all walks of life, many of whom never knew Mr Tougher, have been paying their respects at the scene of the tragedy.
One bunch of flowers has been laid by staff at a neighbouring KFC, while retired paramedic Scott Fogarty left a heartfelt message for the 29-year-old.
“Unfortunately for this young man his duty and career ended far too soon from the very thing that scares us on duty,” the message read.
“He has paid the ultimate price for being a caring brave soul devoting his life to saving and serving those in need.”
True support for the family
A GoFundMe page set up by the Core Disability Network has been inundated with more than 3800 donations, ranging from $25 to $2000, from across NSW and parts of Australia and the US, totalling more than $243,916 by 3pm Saturday.
A high proportion of donations were from members of the Ambulance community.
A tragic day
Jordan Fineanganofo, 21, was on Friday night charged with murdering Mr Tougher, who was repeatedly stabbed while he sat in his ambulance doing paperwork at a McDonald’s restaurant car park.
The alleged stabber was taken into custody at the scene on Friday morning, and charged some 15 hours later by NSW homicide squad detectives working with Campbelltown Police.
He was refused bail and at court on Saturday, his lawyer did not apply for his release.
Lawyer Javid Faiz said his client was in hospital, in police custody, for mental health issues.
Paramedic Steven Tougher, 29, was coming to the end of a long night shift, finishing off paperwork in the back of his van in the car park when a stranger allegedly lunged at him with a knife, repeatedly stabbed him in the stomach and left him for dead.
The horrific killing of Mr Tougher brought health officials to tears, and shone the spotlight on the dangers frontline emergency workers face every day.
Mr Tougher had been working as a paramedic for less than a year, and he and his partner Madison married just a month ago.
Mr Tougher, who was attached to NSW Ambulance’s southwest Sydney team, was set to welcome his second child in just a few weeks and leaves behind a three-year-old son.
It is understood Mr Tougher was getting food with colleagues near the end of their night shift when the violent attack occurred on Friday morning.
NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said it was an extremely difficult time for the fallen paramedic’s young family and his NSW Ambulance colleagues.
“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.
“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 Mr Tougher 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 Mr Tougher’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.
Mr Lanyon 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.
NSW Health secretary Susan Pearce was overcome with emotion when she addressed the media on Friday morning soon after police announced the paramedic had died in hospital.
“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 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 circumstances 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.”
Karen Burns, Director of Strategy for St John of God Health Care, specialists in trauma recovery for frontline workers, said tragic events like this drew attention to the serious challenges first responders face every day in their line of work.
“Incidents like this can have far reaching and differing effects among first responder communities and their families,” Ms Burns said.
“Some first responders may feel they want to be at work with colleagues who understand them and their feelings, others may need to process this type of thing at home surrounded by family.
“The important thing is to reach out for support and assistance to work through the impacts when they are ready. Managers need to understand their people may want or need different approaches and be flexible as well as supportive.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money to support Mr Tougher’s family.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-madison-and-her-family
Join the conversation
Convicted baby killer Keli Lane in secret hearing
Former elite water polo player Keli Lane is making another legal push for freedom.
Read more
Cell phone horror: 1553 jail calls from alleged attacker to DV victim
A high risk domestic violence offender managed to get his alleged victim’s phone number added to list of approved people he was allowed to call from jail.
Read more