Inside final celebration of slain paramedic Steve Tougher

A week before Steven Tougher was killed his family held a gathering, unaware tragedy was about to strike. A month earlier he had married the love of his life.

Heartwarming photographs of a young paramedic with his family a week before he was brutally killed have emerged.

Steven Tougher, 29, died after being repeatedly stabbed in an ambulance at a south west Sydney McDonald’s carpark on Friday morning.

A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder.

Mr Tougher was approaching the end of his shift and sitting in the back of the ambulance doing paperwork when his attacker pulled open the door.

Other paramedics raced to the scene following reports their colleague had been stabbed multiple times.

He was treated at the scene before being rushed to Liverpool Hospital where he tragically died.

The close-knit family of Mr Tougher had shared pictures of a family gathering a week earlier with his doting mother Jill writing “Love having fun with family” and “Family comes first”.

The pictures show a relaxed Mr Tougher posing with a number of family members and a group shot with Mr Tougher, wife Madison, sister Jessica and parents Jill and Jeff.

Tragically, Mr Tougher had married his wife Madison just a month ago, and their second child is due in a few short weeks.

Mr Tougher with family a week before his brutal murder. Picture: Facebook, Jill Tougher

Mr Tougher had married his wife Madison just a month ago, and their second child is due in “a few short weeks”. Picture: Facebook, Jill Tougher

The couple also share a three-year-old son, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Earlier this year, excited family members shared videos and photos of the happy bride and groom on the special day on social media.
“Mr and Mrs Tougher,” the groom proudly posted the following day.

While his wife Madison wrote on her Facebook “Best friend and lover all in one”.

Footage and photos show the couple doing their wedding waltz, celebrating with loved ones and on the dancefloor with guests.

“We could not be more proud of our boy on his wedding day,” his mum wrote at the time.

“What a magical day!”

Mr Tougher’s sister Jessica has returned from England in January after three years working abroad, another poignant moment for the family.

A relaxed Mr Tougher poses with wife Madison and his broader family. Picture: Facebook, Jill Tougher

A Go Fund Me page has been set up to raise money to support Mr Tougher’s family. More than $128,000 of a $300,000 goal had been donated as of Saturday morning.
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon said officers responding to the incident were confronted by the suspect who was wielding a knife and Tasered him.

Several bystanders who had tried to help Mr Tougher were also confronted, Mr Lanyon said.

He said a motive for the attack was not yet known.

“The young man was simply doing his job,” Mr Lanyon added.

Mr Lanyon appealed to the community for any information or footage they may have of the suspect allegedly driving around the Ingleburn and Campbelltown areas in the early hours of the morning in a blue Honda Jazz sedan.

Mr Tougher had recently married a month ago. Picture: Facebook

His death has rocked the paramedic community. Picture: Facebook

NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said he had spoken to Mr Tougher’s family, who were devastated by their loss.

“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,” Mr 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.”

According to the commissioner, Mr Tougher’s father said it had been his son’s dream to become a paramedic from the age of five.

Mr Tougher with his mother Jill on his wedding day. Picture: Facebook, Jessica Tougher

He had been working as a paramedic for about 12 months after graduating from Charles Sturt University in 2021 and had only recently been posted back in southwest Sydney.

“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,” Mr Morgan said.

Tributes have poured in for Mr Tougher on social media.

“Always and forever Steven Tougher. We scrubbed poorly but we scrubbed up all right,” one person wrote on Facebook.

Mr Tougher with his parents on Graduation Day. Picture: Facebook, Steven Tougher

“Rest easy my friend, I will cherish our years and time together and you will be in my heart forever.”
Many members of the emergency response and healthcare workforce have also shared messages of support and grief.

Retired paramedic Scott Fogarty, who did not know Mr Tougher, penned a heartbreaking letter to his fallen “brother” in an emotional tribute highlighting the dangers of the job.

The letter was pinned at the scene of the stabbing.

“We dedicate our lives to serving the community, helping those in need,” he wrote.

“We know the dangers and unfortunately are exposed to those dangers far too often, but we all hope that at the end of our shift we can go home to our loved ones in one piece.

“Some of us break down after years of burnout and torment from the trauma we experience, some push on carrying the scars.

A letter posted at the scene of stabbing.

“Unfortunately for this young man his duty and career has ended far too soon from the very thing that scares us all while on duty.

“He has paid the ultimate price for being a caring brave soul devoting his life to saving and serving those in need!

“I pray for his young family, extended family, our colleagues and his friends!

“I am absolutely devastated, angry and heartbroken for my fellow Paramedic Brother.

“Prayers to you Brother, your shift has ended, Rest in Peace!”

-with Alex Blair and Megan Palin

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