SYDNEY: One woman has died and another has been hospitalised after they were hit by debris from a tree that was struck by lightning in southwest Sydney.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation quoted emergency services as saying on Sunday (Feb 9) that they were called to a property in Cawdor, about 55 km southwest of central Sydney, at 5:30 p.m. local time on Saturday following reports of two people being injured by tree fragments.
A woman in her 40s was treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics but could not be revived.
A second woman, also in her 40s, was taken to a nearby hospital, where she remained in a stable but serious condition on Sunday. Australia's 9News network reported that she was left with a partially amputated finger and a broken jaw.
The Sydney Morning Herald quoted David Kynaston from the ambulance service in New South Wales (NSW) saying on Sunday that it was a "freak incident".
"Both women sat six meters from a large tree, and this has been struck by a lightning bolt, which literally caused the tree to explode, sending debris all over the place," he said.
"This is a very traumatic and tragic incident for the family involved but also very confronting for emergency services."
He said that young children witnessed the incident.
NSW Police said a report would be prepared for the coroner. - Xinhua
