Hersheypark Tragedy Update: 9 Year-Old Gets In Fatal Accident Inside Water Park - How Did She Die?

A 9 year-old child has died, following a fatal accident at The Boardwalk inside Hersheypark in Pennsylvania on Thursday evening.

The incident was confirmed by Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company CEO John Lawn, despite 'tireless efforts' at an 'immediate rescue'.

About The Boardwalk and Hersheypark's Response

The incident occurred in The Boardwalk, which is also the waterpark section of the venue. It is located in the northern part of the century-old Pennsylvanian amusement park.

The area featured 16 different attractions, including The Shore, a 378,000-gallon wave pool that's six feet deep. It's also home to the world's longest mat racing slides dubbed the Whitecap Racer.

As per Lawn, lifeguards responded immediately upon noticing the child in distress prior to the tragedy. However, he did not reveal the attraction where the accident took place.

'From the moment that 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.

While the child was retrieved and moved to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, she was declared dead after arrival.

Cause of Death and Internal Review

At the time of writing, Hersheypark has yet to release the child's identity out of respect for the family's privacy. This is the same with the child's cause of death. Additional updates are expected as we await the outcome of the investigation.

Hersheypark has extended their deepest condolences for the family's loss via an announcement on X.

Lawn said that an internal review is set to take place in the coming days. He also added that the park will fully cooperate with authorities. Notably, the company hasn't disclosed whether the attraction where the incident took place will be temporarily closed during the review.

'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,' said Lawn concerning the incident.

As per the company, lifeguards employed by the park are required to complete a 24-hour class. This also includes maintenance of at least four hours of continued education per month of employment.

Previous Incidents at Hersheypark

This incident is only the second recorded fatality linked to an attraction in Hersheypark since its founding in 1906. According to Lebanon Daily News, the other involved a coaster train being released while a teenager was on the track.

The first took place in 1977, during routine maintenance on one of the park's newest attractions at the time, the SooperDooperLooper. The victim was a 16 year-old named David Harter, who was employed as a summer maintenance worker.

He was struck by the rollercoaster's train during an accidental start of the ride on 25 August 1977. Similarly, he was retrieved immediately and medical assistance was administered in Hershey Medical Center.

The spokesman of the company at the time also made familiar announcements. This included launching an investigation of the incident and no confirmation of Harter being struck by a cart.