A tragic incident unfolded on the New South Wales Mid North Coast this morning, where police fatally shot a man following a violent home invasion that left a woman stabbed.

Police responded to an emergency call at a residence on Heath Avenue, Tuncurry, shortly before 6:40 a.m. Reports indicated that an intruder, wielding both a chainsaw and a knife, had broken into the home.

Before officers arrived, they received information that the suspect had stabbed a woman and subsequently escaped in a white four-wheel drive vehicle.

Shortly after the initial incident, police located the suspect’s vehicle on Stewart Parade, Tuncurry, and initiated a pursuit.

She was treated and airlifted to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

A short time later, police saw the four-wheel drive on Stewart Parade, Tuncurru, and commenced a pursuit.

The car drove through a sportsground before crashing on the Forster Bridge a short time later.

Police attended the crash scene and were told the man had carjacked another vehicle, which then rammed a police car.

An officer suffered minor injuries.

Another pursuit ended on Idlewood Drive in Rainbow Flat where the man drove onto a property and entered a home, still armed with a knife, and tried to steal another vehicle.

The man then left that home and confronted police.

Officers deployed a Taser multiple times as the man ran to a neighbouring property and then toward an officer, still armed with a knife.

The officer discharged his firearm, shooting the man.

Police and paramedics rendered first aid, but the man died at the scene.

He is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be 41.

A critical incident investigation is now underway.

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