Tragedy struck Pennsylvania amusement park Hershey Park on July 24, 2025, when a 9-year-old child died. The unidentified girl reportedly died in a wave pool accident at the Boardwalk in Hersheypark. As soon as they saw the child in distress, lifeguards reportedly reacted, performing life-saving measures before emergency responders took her to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Sadly, doctors pronounced the child dead. Now, Hersheypark is doing its best to respect the family and instill confidence in guests.
Following the child’s death, John Lawn, CEO of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, immediately took to social media to confirm the news.
“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,” his statement shared in part. “To 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.”
Lawn declined to release any details about the child’s identity out of respect for the family. He asserted that Hersheypark will cooperate with law enforcement and conduct an internal investigation.
A spokesperson told WGAL that the day the child died, 100 lifeguards trained and certified through Ellis & Associates were on duty. The wave pool had 10 lifeguards dedicated to the wave pool area alone.
Authorities have not confirmed the child’s identity. The Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg, however, confirmed in a social media post on July 27 that the child was part of the community.
“At just 9 years old, she was full of promise, innocence, and joy – 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 she was so warmly a part of,” the post reads. “Our entire community is grieving alongside the family during this unimaginably difficult time. 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.”
