Latest news with #Hersheypark
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Girl who died in Hersheypark wavepool named as nine year-old Sophia Subedi
A nine year-old girl who died in a busy wave pool at the Hersheypark water park has been named as Sophia Subedi. Sophia was pulled unresponsive from the waters of the busy attraction in Hersey, Pennsylvania, last Thursday and could not be revived. It is still unclear how she died with autopsy results not yet released. An online tribute to Sophia said: 'A bright, kind, and loving young girl, Sophia, brought joy and light to everyone who knew her. Her sudden loss has left our entire community in grief.' Developing story, check back for updates...
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
9-year-old girl who died after incident at Hersheypark Boardwalk identified
Members of the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg confirmed the identity of the 9-year-old girl who died at The Boardwalk at Hersheypark on July 24. Sophia Subedi, who has lived in Harrisburg since 2022, was found by Boardwalk lifeguards at the wave pool within the Boardwalk area. Subedi was transported to Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center, where officials said the child did not recover. "A bright, kind, and loving young girl, Sophia brought joy and light to everyone who knew her," a family representative said in a statement. "Her sudden loss has left our entire community in grief." Subedi was the first Hersheypark guest to die in the park's 119-year history. Her cause of death has not been released as of Monday morning. Subedi was born in 2016 in Mount Carmel, Columbus, Ohio. She was preparing to start fourth grade at North Side Elementary School in the Central Dauphin School District. A GoFundMe has been created by friends and community members in support of the Subedi family, according to representatives. A funeral and memorial service for Sophia Subedi is expected to take place Wednesday at the Jesse H. Geigle Funeral Home in Harrisburg. "We hope to turn this loss into a legacy — perhaps by supporting children's safety initiatives, advocating for awareness, or creating a small space in her name where kids and families can feel safe, loved, and connected," representatives said on the GoFundMe page. Hershey Entertainment officials said they will be conducting a "thorough internal review" of the incident in the coming days, and will cooperate fully with authorities. "The safety of our guests has always been our highest priority. In the coming days, we will conduct a thorough internal review and cooperate fully with authorities. "Our hearts break for this child and the child's family. We extend our deepest condolences for their loss. Out of respect for their privacy, we will not release any personal details at this time," John Lawn, CEO, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, said in a statement Thursday. The wave pool was closed Friday after the incident. Hershey officials said that there were 10 lifeguards specifically dedicated to the wave pool at the time of the incident. The wave pool has since been reopened, according to officials. The Derry Township Police Department issued a statement Friday saying they are assisting Hersheypark and the Dauphin County Coroner's Office with their review into Sophia Subedi's death. "We are still on the early stages of this process, and we are working to gather all of the facts in the incident," police said. "Our thoughts and our hearts are with the family and friends of this young life, lost too soon." Hersheypark officials said there were over 100 Ellis & Associates-trained lifeguards in the Boardwalk area at the time of the incident. The park employs 19 Certified Lifeguard Instructors and one Instructor Trainer to "ensure all team members meet rigorous safety standards." This is an ongoing story. Please check back for updates. Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ or on X at @DAMattToth. This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Girl, 9, who died after incident at Hersheypark Boardwalk identified Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Little girl, 9, who was 'light of our lives' dies after freak tragedy in Hersheypark wave pool
The 9-year-old child who died after being pulled from the wave pool at Pennsylvania 's Hersheypark has been identified as a young girl from Harrisburg. While her name has not been released publicly, 'out of respect for the family,' community leaders have confirmed she was a beloved member of the local Bhutanese population. The young girl was 'in distress' in the wave pool before she died, authorities said. 'Our hearts break for this child and the child's family. We extend our deepest condolences for their loss. Out of respect for their privacy, we will not release any personal details at this time,' a statement from CEO of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, John Lawn, said. The iconic theme park released a statement of its own on Saturday, commending the lifesaving efforts of park staff and extending condolences to the grieving family. 'We can confirm that the incident occurred at the wave pool within The Boardwalk at Hersheypark. The wave pool will remain closed today out of respect for the family and deep appreciation of our team members who worked so valiantly in their efforts to save the life of the guest,' an updated statement from Hersheypark reads. Hersheypark said there were over 100 trained lifeguards at the park at the time of the tragic incident, including '10 lifeguards specifically dedicated to the wave pool' attraction. 'There were over 100 E&A-trained lifeguards in the Boardwalk at the time of the incident. There were 10 lifeguards specifically dedicated to the wave pool at the time of the incident. 'The specific lifeguards stationed at the wave pool received the highest level of training and certification from E&A, known as Special Facility Training, which includes deep-water lifeguarding, Basic Life Support, AED use, supplemental oxygen support, CPR, and First Aid. Additionally, as part of Hersheypark's commitment to water safety, complimentary life vests are also available to all of our guests,' the park said. Now, the young girl - described as 'full of promise, innocence, and joy' - is being remembered by members of her local community. 'At just nine years old, she was full of promise, innocence, and joy – a light in the lives of all who knew her,' Tilak Niroula, chairman of the Board for the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg, announced on the group's Facebook page. 'Her sudden and tragic departure has left a deep void in our hearts and in the community she was so warmly a part of. Our entire community is grieving alongside the family during this unimaginably difficult time,' he continued. The young girl - described as 'full of promise, innocence, and joy' - is being remembered by members of her local community 'Words cannot fully capture the depth of our pain, but we are united in our mourning and committed to standing with the family in love, prayer and support.' The girl had been visiting The Boardwalk at Hersheypark on Thursday, July 24, when she became 'in distress' in the water, according to a statement from the park's parent company CEO. '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,' Lawn said. After park staff performed life-saving measures, the young girl was taken to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. However, it remains unclear at this time how the child died. The Derry Township Police Department and the Dauphin County Coroner's Office said they are continuing their investigation into the incident, as park officials say they will 'fully cooperate' and even 'conduct an internal review' of their own. 'The Derry Township Police Department is assisting Hersheypark and the Dauphin County Coroner's Office with their review into the death of a 9-year-old child at The Boardwalk at Hersheypark on the evening of July 24, 2025. 'We are still on the early stages of this process, and we are working to gather all of the facts in the incident. 'Our thoughts and our hearts are with the family and friends of this young life, lost too soon,' the Derry Township Police Department said. The 9-year-old girl's death marks the first fatality at the park since 1977. The Boardwalk area of the park features 16 water attractions, including a 378,000-gallon wave pool called 'The Shore,' which reaches a depth of six feet.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Girl, 9, Who Died at Hersheypark Remembered as Being 'Full of Promise' and ‘a Light in the Lives of All Who Knew Her'
"Her sudden and tragic departure has left a deep void in our hearts and in the community," one mourner said The 9-year-old child who died at Hersheypark's water park is being remembered by her local community. Tilak Niroula, a chairman of the Board for the Bhutanese Community in nearby Harrisburg, Pa., remembered the child — whose name has not yet been shared publicly — describing her as a 'beloved' member of their local Bhutanese community.'At just nine years old, she was full of promise, innocence, and joy — a light in the lives of all who knew her,' Niroula said in a statement to WGAL-TV. 'Her sudden and tragic departure has left a deep void in our hearts and in the community she was so warmly a part of.' 'Our entire community is grieving alongside the family during this unimaginably difficult time,' he continued. 'Words cannot fully capture the depth of our pain, but we are united in our mourning and committed to standing with the family in love, prayer and support.' The preteen was visiting The Boardwalk at Hersheypark on Thursday, July 24, when she became "in distress" in the water, according to a statement from John Lawn, CEO of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts. '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," Lawn said. In an updated statement obtained by WGAL-TV, the water park said the incident 'occurred at the wave pool within The Boardwalk." The area 'remain closed' after the incident 'out of respect for the family and deep appreciation of our team members who worked so valiantly in their efforts to save the life of the guest.' A representative told PEOPLE after the tragedy that Hersheypark "places the highest priority on water safety at The Boardwalk," and there were over 100 trained lifeguards at the park at the time of the incident, including "10 lifeguards specifically dedicated to the wave pool.' "The specific lifeguards stationed at the wave pool received the highest level of training and certification, which includes deep-water lifeguarding, Basic Life Support, AED use, supplemental oxygen support, CPR and First Aid," the spokesperson continued. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories CEO Lawn promised that the company would "conduct a thorough internal review and cooperate fully with authorities" in the "coming days." He said they would also "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." The Derry Township Police Department is assisting the park in the investigation. "Our thoughts and our hearts are with the family and friends of this young life, lost too soon," police said. The Dauphin County Coroner's Office, meanwhile, said in a statement that it remains in "the early stages of this process, and we are working to gather all of the facts." Read the original article on People
Global News
4 days ago
- Health
- Global News
9-year-old child dies in accident at U.S. water park
A nine-year-old girl died after an incident in a wave pool at a water park in central Pennsylvania on Thursday night, though her cause of death has not been confirmed. John Lawn, the CEO of Hersheypark, where the event occurred, said in a statement on X late Thursday that a 'guest was tragically lost' on the premises. A message from our CEO — Hersheypark (@Hersheypark) July 25, 2025 Story continues below advertisement According to the statement, lifeguard personnel sprang into action when they noticed a child in distress and did all they could to resuscitate them. 'They performed an immediate rescue, followed by continuous, coordinated life-saving efforts by our lifeguards, on-site first responders, and medical personnel,' the statement continued. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The child was transported to a nearby hospital, where she died. 'Our heart breaks for this child and the child's family. We extend our deepest condolences for their loss,' Lawn added, without disclosing the name of the child, only that the incident occurred on The Boardwalk at Hersheypark, where the wave pool is located. The New York Times reported Friday that park officials said that at the time the incident occurred, more than 100 trained lifeguards were on-duty in the water park, including ten at the wave pool. According to the park, its lifeguards are trained in deepwater lifeguarding, basic life support, automated external defibrillator, or A.E.D. use, supplemental oxygen support, CPR and first aid. The Boardwalk is a themed area within the broader park and contains several features, including a seven-storey tall water play structure with seven body waterslides, two tipping buckets and hundreds of different water play-toys, a tube waterslide tower featuring four different waterslides, a children's play area as well as a lazy river. Story continues below advertisement According to its website, the amusement park has been operational for 115 years and is home to 15 rollercoasters and a large-scale water park, including the 378,000-gallon wave pool, an attraction known as the Bayside Pier with fountains, tipping cones and splash area, a watercoaster and several waterslides. According to People, only a small number of fatal incidents have been recorded throughout the park's more than century-long history. The outlet cited a report from 47 years ago, which involved the death of a maintenance worker who reportedly was hit by a newly opened rollercoaster in 1977. Lawn, in his statement, reaffirmed the park's commitment to ensuring the safety of its guests, saying they are the park's 'highest priority,' and that an in-depth investigation is underway in which the park intends to fully cooperate with authorities. Story continues below advertisement 'As we grieve alongside our community, we ask for privacy for the family and for our team members who are deeply affected by this loss. We will provide updates as appropriate, and we will continue to work to support everyone involved,' Lawn said. 'To every family who visits Hersheypark, please know this: your safety and well-being drive every decision we make,' he continued. '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,' Lawn concluded.
