A fun family gathering turned into a devastating tragedy when a woman was killed in a lightning strike at a backyard barbecue in south-west Sydney.
According to reports, the victim, a 43-year-old mother of four, was attending a barbecue at a home on Old Razorback Road in Cawdor when the incident occurred.
What Happened?
Emergency services were called to the scene around 5:30 pm on Saturday after reports that two women, both in their 40s, had been injured when lightning struck a tree in the backyard.
The woman who died suffered head injuries from wood shrapnel, while the second woman’s phone exploded in her hand, causing partial amputation of her finger and fracturing her jaw.
Injuries and Aftermath
The second woman was rushed to Liverpool Hospital in a serious but stable condition. NSW Ambulance reported that she had multiple injuries, including hand and face injuries, and was in a serious condition when she arrived at the hospital.
The home, located near Camden, has been cordoned off as a crime scene, and police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
The Bureau of Meteorology had issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Hunter, Illawarra, and Central Tablelands regions earlier that day, around 3:10 pm.
The warning likely saved many lives, but unfortunately, it was too late for the woman who lost her life.
A Family Left to Mourn
The victim was a mother of four, and there were several children attending the gathering at the time of the incident.
The community is left to mourn the loss of a life, and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim.
A report will be prepared for the coroner, and police will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.