Australia Weather News

A woman has died and another remains in a serious condition after a lightning strike hit a tree south of Sydney.

Emergency services were called to a home on Old Razorback Road in Cawdor following reports two people were hit by fragments of a tree.

A woman in her 40s was treated at the scene, however, she could not be revived.

A second woman, also aged in her 40s, was treated by paramedics and taken to Liverpool Hospital, where she remains in a serious but stable condition.

Inspector David Kynaston from NSW Ambulance described the woman's death as a "freak incident".

"Both women were sat 6 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."

Inspector Kynaston said the incident was witnessed by young children.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.