A 9-year-old child died at Hersheypark’s water park in Pennsylvania on Thursday despite “tireless efforts” to save the young guest, the company announced.
Hershey Entertainment CEO John Lawn said lifeguards noticed a child was in distress at The Boardwalk, the park’s themed water attraction, when they jumped to perform an “immediate rescue.”
The child was rushed to the nearby Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pa., but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.
“Our hearts break for this child and the child’s family,” Lawn said. “We extend our deepest condolences for their loss.”
Lawn did not reveal the attraction where the tragedy occurred.
The Boardwalk features 16 different water attractions, located in the northern section of the 119-year-old Pennsylvania amusement park, including the world’s longest mat racing slides, Whitecap Racer.
It is also home to a 378,000-gallon wave pool dubbed The Shore, which deepens to 6 feet.
The identity of the child was not provided.
A cause of death was not immediately known.
Lawn said an internal review will take place in the coming days and the park will fully cooperate with authorities.
“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,” he added.
Lifeguards employed by the park must complete a 24-hour class and maintain at least four hours of continued education per month of employment, according to the company.
The tragic death is just the second attributed to an attraction at the century-old park.
In 1977, a 16-year-old working on the park’s first inverted ride, the SooperdooperLooper, was fatally run over when a coaster train was released as he worked on the track, according to the Lebanon Daily News.
William Harter was repairing a switching mechanism around 2:15 p.m. Aug. 25, 1977, when a cart was released and struck him.
Several guests have been injured at the park over the years, but no other deaths have occurred on the rides.
