Woman dies after freak lightning strike explodes a tree in her backyard and pierces her with wood shrapnel - while second woman using her phone is electrocuted

A pistillate has died and a 2nd has been rushed to infirmary with superior injuries aft a freak lightning onslaught successful their backyard successful Sydney's outer south-west.

Emergency crews were called to Old Razorback Rd successful Cawdor, astir 5.30pm connected Saturday, wherever they recovered the deceased pistillate who was aged successful her 40s.

She had tragically been pierced by wood shrapnel erstwhile the lightning caused a histrion to detonate adjacent to wherever she had been sitting. 

A 2nd pistillate adjacent had been connected her telephone erstwhile the lighting besides struck her - partially amputating her digit and fracturing her jaw.

NSW Police confirmed the fatality.

'A 2nd woman, besides aged successful her 40's, was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to Liverpool Hospital wherever she remains successful a superior but unchangeable condition,' a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

NSW Ambulance said the 2nd woman's injuries were significant. 

'Paramedics transported a pistillate successful her 40s to Liverpool hospital. She had aggregate injuries including manus and look injuries and she was successful a superior information erstwhile she arrived astatine hospital,' a spokesperson said.

The Hunter, Illawarra and Central Tablelands regions were issued a terrible thunderstorm informing astir 3.10pm by the Bureau of Meteorology. 

Police person acceptable up a transgression country astatine the location and are investigating the circumstances astir the tragedy.

A study volition beryllium prepared for the Coroner.