A young farmer has died after being struck by lightning while checking livestock at the family property in the NSW central west.
Cameron Cox, 22, was struck at a farm north of Mudgee during thunder storms that swept the state on Tuesday afternoon, as his parents and sister watched.
Police Minister and Dubbo MP Troy Grant said Mr Cox was taken by one of "the cruellest acts by Mother Nature" as he battled the elements.
"I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to the family and community," Mr Grant said in a statement on Wednesday.
"My thoughts and any support I can offer are with Cameron's family, father Malcolm, mother Joanne, brother Hayden, sister Bec and grandparents Bruce and Gloria."
Those family members, who all lived on the Moolarben property, were alongside Mr Cox protecting their stock when he was struck.
Several grass fires had been ignited by the lightning strikes on the farm so rural firefighters were also at the property and they performed CPR but Mr Cox died at the scene.
He was a much-loved sportsman in the region with the Mudgee District Cricket Association and Mudgee Touch Football Association mourning the loss of the young all-rounder.
"Yesterday we lost one of Mudgee crickets nice guys. Cameron Cox was a great all round cricketer and an ever better bloke!! Our condolences go out to his family and partner Georgia. You were taken way to soon mate. You will be sorely missed but never forgotten. Rip Coxy", one tribute said.
Tuesday's incident follows another fatal lightning strike in December, when American backpacker Sam Beattie, 24, was killed on the top of Mount Warning, in northern NSW, during an electrical storm.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, five people were killed by lightning strikes in 2015.
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