(NewsNation) — A 9-year-old child has died following an incident at a Hershey, Pennsylvania, waterpark Thursday.
The incident took place at The Boardwalk at Hersheypark. The Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg released a statement Friday confirming that the child was a young girl and a beloved member of its community.
“She was full of promise, innocence, and joy — a light in the lives of all who knew her,” the statement said. “Our entire community is grieving alongside the family during this unimaginably difficult time.”
John Lawn, CEO of Hershey Entertainment and Resorts addressed the incident in a statement Thursday, calling it a tragedy.
“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 transported without delay to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where, despite everyone’s tireless efforts, the child did not recover.”
Lawn said guest safety remains his team’s highest priority and that a thorough investigation into the incident would be conducted.
“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,” Lawn said.
The Derry Township Police Department is assisting Hersheypark and the Dauphine County Coroner’s Office with the investigation and is “working to gather all of the facts in the incident.”
The Boardwalk hosts 16 aquatic attractions. Hersheypark notes on its website that there are maximum capacity limits for each of these areas and notes that “timed swim sessions may be initiated” in order to ensure guest safety.