A 9-year-old child died after visiting the water park in Pennsylvania’s Hersheypark, the company has confirmed.
The tragedy unfolded Thursday evening, as the unidentified child visited The Boardwalk at Hersheypark, according to a statement from Hershey CEO John Lawn. He said the kid suddenly became “distressed” as they swam, drawing an immediate response from the lifeguards on duty.
“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.
The child was then transported “without delay” to the nearby Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where, “despite everyone’s tireless efforts, the child did not recover.”
Lawn did not say at which attraction the incident occurred. Few other details were provided, including the child’s cause of death.
According to the company’s website, The Boardwalk at Hersheypark — tucked in the northern section of the 119-year-old amusement park — is made up of more than a dozen water attractions, including slides, a water coaster and a wave pool. The features specifically include “Whitecap Racer,” described as the longest mat racing slides in the world, as well as a 378,000-gallon wave pool called “The Shore.” It can be as deep as 6 feet.
Lawn also emphasized the company’s commitment to safety is its “highest priority” and that a “a thorough internal review” will be carried out in the coming days. He added that they are also fully cooperating with the law enforcement investigation.
“To every family who visits Hersheypark, please know this: your safety and well-being drive every decision we make,” his statement concluded. “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.”
Originally Published:
