A 9-year-old child died Thursday night, July 24, 2025, following an incident at The Boardwalk, Hersheypark’s water park in Hershey, Pennsylvania, according to Hershey Entertainment & Resorts CEO John Lawn. The Hersheypark child death occurred in the wave pool, where lifeguards noticed the child in distress and initiated an immediate rescue. “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 in a statement posted on Hersheypark’s Facebook page.
Despite these efforts, the child was transported to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead. The cause of the Hersheypark child death remains undisclosed, with Lawn noting it may have been a medical emergency rather than a typical drowning. “Our hearts break for this child and the child’s family. We extend our deepest condolences for their loss,” Lawn said, emphasizing that no personal details would be released to respect the family’s privacy.
A witness, who chose to remain anonymous, shared a heartfelt account of the Hersheypark child death: “It was 92 degrees and my family had just arrived when I saw a child being pulled, limp, from the wave pool. Lifeguards blew their whistles, evacuating everyone, and within moments, staff and security rushed to help. A lifeguard began CPR on a gurney with intense focus, working for several minutes. When he stopped, clearly shaken, the crowd let out an audible sigh.” The witness added, “Staff did their best to shield onlookers from the trauma, but the weight of the moment was overwhelming. I later heard this may have been a medical emergency, not a typical drowning, which makes it no less tragic.”
The Boardwalk’s 378,000-gallon wave pool, known as The Shore, was closed on Friday, July 25, out of respect for the family and staff. Hersheypark reported that 10 lifeguards, trained in deep-water lifeguarding, CPR, and first aid, were stationed at the wave pool during the incident, with over 100 lifeguards across the water park. The Hersheypark child death has prompted a thorough internal review, with the park committing to cooperate fully with the Derry Township Police Department and Dauphin County Coroner’s Office. “To every family who visits Hersheypark, please know this: your safety and well-being drive every decision we make,” Lawn said.
The Hersheypark child death, a rare tragedy at the 119-year-old park, has left the community grieving. Southern Maryland residents, familiar with Hersheypark as a family destination, are reminded of the importance of water safety as the investigation continues.
