A "beloved" mum-of-four was killed in a freak lightning strike after a tree exploded causing flying shrapnel to hit her - as her horrified children witnessed the tragedy. Business owner Rosanna Hashem, 43, was fatally struck when lightning hit her property in Sydney, Australia at around 5.30pm on Saturday. According to eyewitnesses, she had been sitting in her garden with her children when the freak lightning struck. Rosanna had been pierced by wood shrapnel and despite efforts from emergency services, she was declared dead the scene.
Rosanna's friend, who was with her at the time, was on talking on her phone when the device exploded following the lightning strike, partially amputating her finger and fracturing her jaw. She was rushed to hospital and in a stable condition. "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," NSW Ambulance Inspector David Kynaston said.
"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." Tributes have been paid to Rosanna, who was a "beloved mother of four boys, a devoted wife, a cherished sister, and a dear friend to so many”. “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,” an online statement from her business The Cat Groomery read. Rose’s care, laughter, and kindness brought people together, creating a family — one that will forever carry her memory forward.”.
Jemma Powell, a 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.".