A 9-year-old child died Thursday following a medical emergency at The Boardwalk, a water-themed section of Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, as reported [1] by Fox News.
The incident occurred while the child was visiting the amusement park’s water attractions. Lifeguards and emergency personnel responded immediately.
Child, 9, who died at Hersheypark was ‘limp’ when dragged out of wave pool, horrified witness says https://t.co/VQOALSG9l8 [2] pic.twitter.com/tcAv34qNtG [3]
— New York Post (@nypost) July 25, 2025 [4]
“Tonight, a nine-year-old guest was tragically lost at The Boardwalk at Hersheypark,” said John Lawn, CEO of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, in a statement released Thursday evening.
According to the company, lifeguards noticed the child was in distress and initiated a rescue operation.
Hersheypark death: A witness, who wanted to remain anonymous, told WGAL what they saw at the wave pool at Hersheypark. You can read the full account here: https://t.co/YFP7gssHGy [5] pic.twitter.com/wWA5z0IfH0 [6]
— WGAL (@WGAL) July 25, 2025 [7]
“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 to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where they were later pronounced dead. The identity of the child and the specific water attraction involved in the incident have not been released. The cause of death has not been confirmed.
“Our hearts break for this child and the child’s family,” Lawn said. “We extend our deepest condolences for their loss.”
A message from our CEO pic.twitter.com/tiuzM3SfzA [8]
— Hersheypark (@Hersheypark) July 25, 2025 [9]
The Boardwalk at Hersheypark features 16 different water-based attractions, including “Whitecap Racer,” a mat-style racing slide, and “The Shore,” a 378,000-gallon wave pool. It has not been disclosed if the incident occurred in one of these areas.
Lawn stated that the company would conduct an internal review of the incident and cooperate fully with authorities. “To every family who visits Hersheypark, please know this: your safety and well-being drive every decision we make,” he said.
He also said the company 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.”
A nine-year-old has died after an incident at Hersheypark. It happened at the park’s Boardwalk waterpark area, according to a statement from CEO John Lawn. #panews [10] #hersheypark [11] pic.twitter.com/Mm2qW4RWfq [12]
— WGAL (@WGAL) July 25, 2025 [13]
Hersheypark has not released any updates on whether specific attractions would be closed during the investigation. Law enforcement and emergency services have not provided additional public statements regarding the case.
The park remains open to guests while the investigation continues.