5 days ago
Nine-Year-Old Dies at Hersheypark's The Boardwalk: 'Our Hearts Break'
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A 9-year-old has died following a trip to the Boardwalk at Hersheypark, a water park in Pennsylvania.
"Tonight, a nine-year-old guest was tragically lost at The Boardwalk at Hersheypark," said John Lawn, CEO of Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company, in a statement issued on Thursday.
Newsweek has contacted Hersheypark and the Hershey Company via email for comment outside of regular office hours.
What to Know
The lifeguard team at the park saw a child in distress and launched an "immediate rescue, followed by continuous, coordinated life-saving efforts by our lifeguards, on-site first responders, and medical personnel," said the statement.
The child was taken to the nearby Milton S. Hershey Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Lawn said, "To every family that 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."
"Our hearts break for this child and the child's family. We extend our deepest condolences for their loss," he added.
He also said they will be launching an internal investigation and fully cooperating with authorities.
No further details have been released on the nature of the incident or how the child found themself in distress.
What Is The Boardwalk at Hersheypark?
The Boardwalk at Hersheypark is a water park in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is part of the larger Hersheypark complex, which includes a zoo and an amusement park.
There are 16 water attractions at The Boardwalk, according to the Hersheypark website, including the World's Longest Mat Racing Slides on Whitecap Racer®, and a lazy river.
Hersheypark was founded as a recreational ground for the employees of Hershey's Chocolate by Milton S. Hershey.
The only other death to occur at Hersheypark was in 1977 when a 16-year-old working at the park was accidentally struck by the train of a rollercoaster while doing maintenance work, according to the New York Post, citing an archived copy ofLebanon News.
Mike Novosel rides in the back car of the Lightning Racer roller coaster at Hersheypark to oil the rails every morning prior to the opening of the park, June 16, 2015.
Mike Novosel rides in the back car of the Lightning Racer roller coaster at Hersheypark to oil the rails every morning prior to the opening of the park, June 16, 2015.
Sean Simmers/ via AP
What People Are Saying
John Lawn, CEO of Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company, said on social media: "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."
What Happens Next
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
