Mum-of-four, 43, killed by debris from ‘exploding’ tree after ‘freak’ lightning strike in garden day before birthday

A MUM-OF-FOUR has tragically been killed by an "exploding" tree following a deadly lightning strike.

Rosanna Hashem, 43, was fatally hit the day before her 44th birthday as she was stood with a friend in her garden in the south-west of Sydney, Australia.

The "beautiful mother" was pierced by wood shrapnel when the lightning strike caused a tree to explode near where she had been sitting and devastatingly died at the scene.

Several children are said to have witnessed the unbelievable tragedy.

Rosanna's friend was talking on her phone when it exploded in her hand due to the power surge caused by the deadly lightning.

It partially amputated her finger and fractured her jaw.

She was rushed to hospital following the horror ordeal and is reportedly in stable condition.

NSW Ambulance Inspector David Kynaston said: "Both women had been seated about six metres from a large tree, and this had been struck by a lightning bolt, which literally caused the tree to explode, sending debris all over the place.

"This is a very traumatic and tragic incident for the family involved but also very confronting for emergency services who attended, both in the knowledge that young children had witnessed the incident but also the injuries sustained by the patients."

Jemma Powell, a dear friend and colleague of Rosanna, described the incident as "really tragic".

She said: "I was blessed to have known her for a short time.

"She was a beautiful mother of four boys, a loving wife, sole owner of her own business. She had been working hard over the past five years serving the community.

"She was very passionate about animal welfare and just a fabulous person taken way too soon."

She added that Rosanna had been sitting on the veranda of her home when she was struck by flying debris.

Neighbour Rob Campisi said the freak storm emerged from nowhere and was unlike anything he had ever experienced in the decade he had lived in the area.

Rob told the Daily Telegraph: "It just started to rain, and then all of a sudden just the loudest bang we've ever heard.

"The power went out and [I was] in the shed and … I looked outside and saw a big cloud of smoke."

He added that the weather conditions hadn't seemed dangerous enough to require citizens to stay inside.

Rosanna owned The Groomery Sydney, which she ran from her home.

The business said on Facebook: "It is with profound sadness that we share the heartbreaking news of Rosanna's passing following an unexpected accident."

It's set to remain closed until further notice.