Tragedy as 9-year-old dies in front of horrified families in Hersheypark incident
'Tonight, a nine-year-old guest was tragically lost at The Boardwalk at Hersheypark. From the moment our lifeguard team recognized that a child was in distress, they performed an immediate rescue, followed by continuous, coordinated life-saving efforts by our lifeguards, on-site first responders, and medical personnel,' the park's CEO, John Lawn, said in a statement.
The child was rushed to a nearby hospital, where despite the 'tireless efforts' of medical professionals, the victim 'did not recover.'
The specific details of the child's death have not been made public.
The Boardwalk attraction at Hersheypark is made up of a wave pool, a lazy river, and numerous water slides. The park has stated that it is cooperating with authorities and conducting its own review of the incident.
According to Dauphin County authorities, first responders were called to the scene at Hersheypark's first aid center around 6:45 pm.
Lawn added in his statement, 'Every family who visits Hersheypark, please know this: your safety and well‑being drive every decision we make.'
'We will thoroughly investigate this tragedy and honor the memory of this young guest by continuing our focus on ensuring the safety of our guests at Hersheypark,' he added.
Hersheypark opened in 1906 as an amusement park for the employees of the chocolate giant. The park underwent rapid expansion in the 1970s, which continued through the 2000s, including the development of a waterpark feature. The Boardwalk opened in 2007 as the park's most expensive investment at a cost of $21 million. Two new attractions were added in 2018.
The park is located 95 miles west of Philadelphia and 15 miles east of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It is among the most visited theme parks in the U.S.
The park is operated by Hersheypark, a division of Hersheypark Entertainment and Resorts Company.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
20 minutes ago
- Belfast Telegraph
GPs across NI to reduce ‘unfunded' work as part of dispute over finances
In May, it emerged that Health Minister Mike Nesbitt had implemented a funding contract for GP surgeries in NI which had been rejected by doctors. At the time, Mr Nesbitt said the package, which included £9.5m in additional funding, was 'at the absolute limit of what is achievable this year'. The British Medical Association (BMA) said the action will continue 'until they receive an improved financial offer'. The move follows a consultation with GPs and will see measures designed to 'reduce the unfunded work they carry out' implemented. The union said that GPs are facing 'unprecedented challenges, including severe underfunding, staff shortages, and overwhelming workloads'. A spokesperson for the BMA added: "These issues have been exacerbated by a refusal of the Department to provide appropriate funding; as part of this year's negotiation, NIGPC asked for an additional £39 per patient to address current pressures, the Department allocated less than 50p per patient, a fraction of what is required.' Measures being implemented by doctors will include limiting patient consultations to the UEMO — the group representing GPs across Europe — recommended maximum of 25 per day. The BMA said notice will be served on voluntary activity and doctors will insist on specialist referrals 'when clinically appropriate' in a bid to improve 'the balance of work'. Doctors say they will also stop 'completing unfunded paperwork requests including patient registration paperwork verification' and will switch off medical optimisation software by instead using their clinical judgement when prescribing. The union added that doctors are 'committed to minimising the impact on patients and ensuring that the highest standards of care continue to be maintained'. The Chair of the NI General Practitioners Committee (NIGPC), Dr Frances O'Hagan, said the decision 'has not been made lightly'. 'It is a last resort to draw attention to the critical needs of the general practice and to advocate for immediate funding and sustainable solutions,' added Dr O'Hagan. 'We have taken comprehensive legal advice and are making every effort to ensure that patient care remains as unaffected as possible during collective action. "Patients are not the focus of our dispute; it is the Department's approach that is forcing us into action.' Dr O'Hagan added that the move is a "clear call for the Health Minister to recognise the severity of the situation and to take immediate and decisive action'. 'We need to reopen the negotiation for this year, and the Minister allocate additional resources immediately to stabilise general practice and to engage in constructive discussions for sustainable, long-term improvements,' she continued. 'Only when he has done that can we begin to talk about next year and how GPs can work with the rest of the system to move more care into the community. We need immediate action to stabilise services before we can plan for long-term changes and improvements.' Dr O'Hagan added: 'Our patients don't deserve the funding they are being offered. Current funding levels are insufficient to meet patient needs, and increased investment is required to maintain safe, high-quality care. 'Patients deserve and need a properly funding service that is sustainable and retains quality of patient care. It is vital that immediate, targeted action is taken to address current funding gaps and resource challenges in general practice.' The Royal College of General Practitioners said the result of the NIGPC ballot shows the strength of feeling amongst GPs across Northern Ireland. "It is clear the current contract is failing to provide GPs and their patients with the support that they need, and more resources are urgently required to tackle this,' RCGPNI chair Ursula Mason added. Ms Mason added that it is not the role of the RCGPNI to intervene in contract talks, but said it was disappointing that negotiations did not resume, leading to the 'unprecedented' move by doctors. 'Absolutely no GP will want to restrict the services they provide for their patients — and it needs to be made clear that GPs and their teams will still be working extremely hard to care for our patients,' said Ms Mason. "There are many aspects of what GPs provide that go well beyond the contractual requirements they are under and what they receive funding for, and this additional workload and the goodwill of the GPs delivering it, have been taken for granted for too long. 'We have written to the Minister for Health today to press him to intervene and come to a resolution that is fit for purpose for patients and the GP teams working harder and harder to provide the quality care our patients deserve.' The Department of Health has been contacted.
North Wales Chronicle
20 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
36 killed amid Israeli strikes in Gaza as some aid restrictions eased
The dead included a newborn who was delivered in a complex surgery after his mother, who was seven months pregnant, was killed in a strike, according to the Nasser Hospital. Israel announced on Sunday that the military would pause operations in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Muwasi for 10 hours a day until further notice to allow for the improved flow of aid to Palestinians in Gaza, where concern over hunger has grown, and designate secure routes for aid delivery. Israel said it would continue military operations alongside the new humanitarian measures. The Israeli military had no immediate comment about the latest strikes, which occurred outside the time frame for the pause Israel declared would be held between 10am and 8pm local time. Aid agencies have welcomed the new aid measures, which also included allowing airdrops into Gaza, but said they were not enough to counter the rising hunger in the Palestinian territory. Images of emaciated children have sparked outrage around the world, including from Israel's close allies. US President Donald Trump on Sunday called the images of emaciated and malnourished children in Gaza 'terrible'. Israel has restricted aid to varying degrees throughout the war. In March, it cut off the entry of all goods, including fuel, food and medicine to pressure Hamas to free hostages. Israel partially lifted those restrictions in May but also pushed ahead on a new US-backed aid delivery system that has been wracked by chaos and violence. Traditional aid providers have also encountered a similar breakdown in law and order surrounding their aid deliveries. Most of Gaza's population now relies on aid. Accessing food has become a challenge that some Palestinians have risked their lives for. The Awda hospital in central Gaza said it received the bodies of seven Palestinians who it said were killed on Monday by Israeli fire close to an aid distribution site run by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The hospital said 20 others were wounded close to the site. The GHF did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The pregnant woman and her child were killed along with 11 others after their house was struck in the Muwasi area, west of the southern city of Khan Younis, according to a hospital run by the Palestinian Red Crescent. Another strike hit a two-storey house in the western Japanese neighbourhood of Khan Younis, killing at least 11 people, more than half of them women and children, said the Nasser Hospital, which received the casualties. At least five others were killed in strikes elsewhere in Gaza, according to local hospitals. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on most of the strikes. It said it was not aware of one strike in Gaza City during the pause that health officials said killed one person. In its October 7 2023 attack, Hamas killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. It still holds 50, more than half of whom Israel believes to be dead. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 59,800 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Its count does not distinguish between militants and civilians, but the ministry says more than half of the dead are women and children. The ministry operates under the Hamas government. The UN and other international organisations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties.
North Wales Live
21 minutes ago
- North Wales Live
Kids ‘to spend up to four hours a day online this summer'
This summer, children will spend up to four hours a day of unstructured time online, according to new research, a 42% increase compared to term time. The new report by Vodafone – which surveyed parents of young people between the ages of eight and 17 - showed that staying in touch with friends (40%), fewer scheduled activities (37%) and an increase in long journeys (24%) are some of the reasons why device use naturally rises during the summer break. While screen time is a helpful way to stay connected and entertained, the rise of unstructured screen time (where children use digital devices without a specific educational or creative goal) means eight in 10 (80%) parents worry about how to keep their families protected over the summer, with 75% concerned over the longer-term impact that screen time could have. The report, which comes as Vodafone announces major improvements to its digital safety service - Secure Net - later this summer, uncovered that the majority of parents (65%) are concerned about their child's device use specifically during the school holidays. Many are thinking about how to support their child's wellbeing, with common concerns including screen time potentially affecting their sleep (29%), and mental health (28%) and seeing harmful content (26%). A quarter (25%) also worry their children may become less interested in playing outside. To help parents navigate this, Vodafone and Digital Awareness UK have teamed up to offer practical advice for parents on how to tackle digital risks facing children this summer, set healthy digital habits, and keep their family safe online. 'We know that the summer holidays can be a challenging time for parents and carers trying to keep their children entertained, and screens often feel like an easy solution to reach for during trips abroad, family outings, and days at home,' Emma Robertson, CEO of Digital Awareness UK, said. 'This can't always be avoided, but without structure, it can lead to greater exposure to online harms, mental health effects and unhealthy tech habits that are difficult to undo. "This research clearly shows that quality over quantity matters, and setting boundaries with screen time that work for your family is essential. So, the start of the summer is a great opportunity to set expectations with your children and kick-start conversations about how to have a healthy relationship with tech and enjoy using it safely and responsibly." The study went on to show that half of parents said they would feel more comfortable with device use if they had greater protection across devices at home and while their kids are out and about. A further 37% say they'd like more convenient tools to help control device usage, and a third (34%) are looking for advice and support to help keep their kids safe over the holidays. Later this summer, Vodafone will make it even easier for families to stay safe online and set healthy digital habits with a major upgrade to Secure Net - its existing digital security service - by bringing together its current mobile and broadband protection. It will include features like 'focus time' to limit distractions, the ability to pause the internet and disconnect devices, a bedtime mode, and a customisable content filter, allowing parents to tailor what their children can access online. Existing Secure Net Home and Mobile customers – including those who join before the new upgrade - will be automatically switched to the new version of Secure Net at no additional cost, retaining the same leading features with the added benefit of use across both Vodafone mobile and WiFi connections seamlessly. 'There's no one size fits all approach to how we build healthy digital habits at home. While many families are already having open conversations about online safety, our research shows a clear desire for more guidance and better tools. "That's why we're committed to putting the best technology and advice in parents' hands - to help them keep their families safe and confident online,' said Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer at VodafoneThree. 'Unstructured screen time tends to naturally rise during the summer holidays, so we've teamed up with Digital Awareness UK to offer practical, parent-friendly guidance. Combined with our Secure Net service — which offers the most comprehensive parental controls of any major UK network* — families can feel more confident navigating the digital world together and enjoy a safer, more balanced summer break'.
