A young mother has died after her hijab became tangled in a go-kart drive mechanism in a tragic accident yesterday.

The woman suffered severe neck and throat injuries after the hijab - a Muslim scarf that covers a woman's head and neck - became entangled with the go-kart while she was driving at Port Stephens Go-Karts yesterday.

Paramedics tried to save the 26-year-old, but she was pronounced dead shortly after she was flown to John Hunter Hospital by a Westpac rescue helicopter.

Detective Inspector Peter Fox of Port Stephens Local Area Command said today the longer part of the scarf was wedged down near one of the go-kart's wheel axles.