SYDNEY, Feb 9 (NNN-AAP) – One woman has died and another has been hospitalised, after they were hit by debris from a tree, that was struck by lightning, in south-west Sydney.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation quoted emergency services as saying today that, they were called to a property in Cawdor, about 55 km south-west of central Sydney, at 5:30 p.m. local time yesterday, 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, today. 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) as saying today that, it was a “freak incident.”
“Both women sat six metres 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.– NNN-AAP
