The family of paramedic Steven Tougher has made an emotional visit to the scene where the 29-year-old father's life was taken.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Mr Tougher was stabbed while on a meal break during a night shift in Sydney's southwest on Friday.
His colleague activated a duress alarm, sparking a police response in which 21-year-old Jordan Fineanganofo was tasered, arrested and later charged with murder.
Mr Tougher's wife Madison arrived hand-in-hand with family members as the close-knit group visited the Campbelltown McDonald's on Wednesday afternoon.
Wearing a pink and blue floral dress, the expectant mum wept as she knelt to lay flowers beside the dozens already left by friends, colleagues and community members left reeling by the attack.
"Steven touched the lives of everyone he met. It's ironic that in his death he's touched so many more," Jeff Tougher told reporters in an heart-wrenching tribute to his son.
With arms around each other's waists and holding hands, the grieving family stood for a moment of silence as they mourned the loss of their son, brother, husband and friend.
Steven and Madison Tougher had been newly married and expecting their second child within weeks.
It is understood the couple intended to raise their children in southwest Sydney after Mr Tougher landed a posting in the area.
The family are now calling for tougher penalties and mandatory life sentences for those who kill anyone in the line of duty, proposing the changes be called "Steven's Law".
"This can't be allowed to be forgotten as just another incident," Jeff Tougher said.
"I hope that the loss of Steven will not be for nothing and that this senseless act will be the catalyst for change to support better working conditions for his brothers and sisters in blue."
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, he asked for laws to protect the service community "so they don't have to look over their shoulder while they are performing CPR on an unconscious baby".
NSW Premier Chris Minns said he talked with the family on Tuesday and had instructed the attorney-general and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to look at potential changes to the law.
"It's heartbreaking what that family has gone through in the last week," Mr Minns said.
"They want to make sure that his death wasn't in vain."
Health Minister Ryan Park also promised to speak with Mr Tougher's family.
"We will listen to and consult with the Tougher family as well as Steven's paramedic colleagues about their experiences, and on what we can do to improve their safety," he told AAP.
"We will look at the existing safety measures, and how they can be enhanced, as well as new measures."
A GoFundMe page set up on Friday afternoon to seek support for the family has amassed more than $440,000 in donations.
Australian Associated Press
