Paramedic tells inquest into Lynn Cannon’s death he grappled with decision to enter knife-wielding man’s home

A paramedic who raced to save the life of domestic violence victim Lynn Cannon has revealed how he “wrestled” with his decision to rush into a dangerous situation with a knife-wielding man.

Mother-of-two Lynn, 51, was brutally murdered by her jealous ex-husband after she was lured to his home on Hardcastle Ave in Landsdale, in Perth’s northern suburbs, in December 2022.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Brave paramedic risked his life to try and save Lynn Cannon.

On Wednesday, paramedic Shane Toovey told an inquest into the case that he had grappled with the choice to enter the property.

“I knew I should wait for the police (but) I knew that there is a chance that there’s a woman in there that needs help and I have the ability to do that,” Toovey said.

He rang his commanders and asked how long police would take to arrive but they did not have an answer.

Ambulance operations tried to call police five times on their direct line but the calls went unanswered.

“I wrestled with that decision for a few minutes at the front door. It was a hard decision to make as I have my own family and I want to go home,” Toovey said.

The paramedic asked a housemate to “stay at the front door, hold it open for me”, telling her “if I come running back out, and if you see someone chasing me, shut the door behind me”.

He found Lynn in the hallway. Her ex-husband Paul Cannon, 55, was in a recliner.

“I asked him multiple times, ‘I am here to help, are you going to hurt me?’,” Toovey said.

“He didn’t answer.”

‘Are you going to hurt me?’

The ambulance officer kicked a small kitchen knife away from the man’s feet before moving over to Lynn.

“I realised that a chest seal wouldn’t work because of the multiple injuries,” Toovey said.

“I witnessed her taking a gasping breath.

“I looked at Lynn, I brushed the hair out of her eyes. I told her I am sorry, that she is safe now.

“I declared her deceased.”

Toovey then had to move his attention to try to save Lynn’s killer.

The critical support paramedic thought he “was in a lot of trouble” for ignoring policy and not waiting for police to arrive, but he was not sanctioned.

The deputy state coroner said: “I have no doubt every single person in this case is in awe of you”, adding: “I just want to thank you on behalf of the community.”

Toovey was on scene for 15 minutes without police back-up but only spoke about the four minutes he delayed going into the house.

“The four minutes I couldn’t get into the house couldn’t have saved her life,” he said.

Paul Cannon pleaded guilty to Lynn’s stabbing murder in March 2023, after luring her to his house under false pretense.

He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum 19-year non-parole period.

The inquest continues.