A boy has been struck by lightning at a beach south of Wollongong on Thursday.
The boy was hit by lightning while swimming at Warrilla Beach at Barrack Point, near Shellharbour.
It's understood the boy is around eight years old.
Surf Life Savers were first on the scene, and had pulled the boy from the water just moments after he was struck.
They performed multiple rounds of CPR until emergency services arrived at about 5:25pm.
"At this stage we have our prayers and hopes to the young boy and the family, but it just goes to show the importance of life guards and life savers in these patrol locations," Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Stephen Pearce said.
Paramedics at the scene treated the boy for burns to his chest before he was taken to Westmead children's hospital by road.
A rescue helicopter landed at the beach but was not used to transport the child.
He was in a critical but stable condition, according to NSW Police.
