Beloved mother killed in lightning strike
<p>A beloved mother has tragically died after a tree exploded following a lightning strike in New South Wales on Saturday. </p>
<p>Rosanna Hashem was enjoying the afternoon in her backyard with a friend when a lightning bolt struck a tree close to her home in Cawdor, south-west of Sydney.</p>
<p>Her friend was rushed to hospital with serious injuries, while Rosanna died at the scene after being pierced with wood shrapnel from the tree's explosion.</p>
<p>Jemma Powell, who worked for Hashem for the past seven months, described the incident as "really tragic".</p>
<p>"I was blessed to have known her for a short time," she said.</p>
<p>"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."</p>
<p>"She was very passionate about animal welfare and just a fabulous person taken way too soon."</p>
<p>Jemma has set up a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-rosanna-hashem?attribution_id=sl:89b17ce0-c2ad-4077-a9f9-bfcf49afa0f2&lang=en_AU&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp13_t1&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=facebook" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> in the wake of Rosanna's sudden death, saying she will always be remembered as "a beautiful mother of four boys (and a) loving wife".</p>
<p>"Rose was not only the heart and foundation of The Groomery but also a beloved mother of four boys, a devoted wife, a cherished sister, and a dear friend to so many," the GoFundMe reads.</p>
<p>"Over the past five years, she and her team poured their hearts into building a warm and trusted community, and her absence leaves an immeasurable void. Rose’s care, laughter, and kindness brought people together, creating a family - one that will forever carry her memory forward."</p>
<p>NSW Ambulance spokesman David Kynaston last night said the second woman, also aged in her 40s, was taken to Liverpool Hospital where she remains in a serious but stable condition.</p>
<p>"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," Kynaston said.</p>
<p>"This was a freak... traumatic and tragic incident for the family involved but also very confronting for emergency services."</p>
<p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>
