{"id":22019,"date":"2025-07-27T20:27:51","date_gmt":"2025-07-27T20:27:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new50.info\/?p=22019"},"modified":"2025-07-27T20:27:51","modified_gmt":"2025-07-27T20:27:51","slug":"a-day-that-was-meant-to-be-full-of-laughter-and-summer-fun-turned-into-a-heartbreaking-tragedy-at-hersheyparks-the-boardwalk-a-9-year-old-child-died-after-a-distressing-incident-that-left-fa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new50.info\/?p=22019","title":{"rendered":"A day that was meant to be full of laughter and summer fun turned into a heartbreaking tragedy at Hersheypark\u2019s The Boardwalk. A 9-year-old child died after a distressing incident that left families and parkgoers in shock. What started as an ordinary visit to the water park ended in unthinkable sorrow. Witnesses say the atmosphere shifted in an instant\u2014from splashes and smiles to sirens and silence. As first responders rushed in, parents clutched their children tighter, knowing something had gone terribly wrong. Later that day, the devastating news was confirmed. \u201cOur hearts break,\u201d the park said in a statement, and those three words echoed what so many were feeling. A young life lost far too soon, in a place meant for joy."},"content":{"rendered":"

A 9-year-old child died at Hersheypark\u2019s water park in Pennsylvania on Thursday despite \u201ctireless efforts\u201d to save the young guest, the company announced.<\/p>\n

Hershey Entertainment CEO John Lawn said lifeguards noticed a child was in distress at The Boardwalk, the park\u2019s themed water attraction, when they jumped to perform an \u201cimmediate rescue.\u201d<\/p>\n

The child was rushed to the nearby Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pa., but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
5 The entrance to Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>
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\"Hersheypark's<\/a>
5 Hersheypark\u2019s The Boardwalk water park where the distressing incident happened on July 24, 2025.Tribune News Service via Getty I<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cOur hearts break for this child and the child\u2019s family,\u201d Lawn said. \u201cWe extend our deepest condolences for their loss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lawn did not reveal the attraction where the tragedy occurred.<\/p>\n

The Boardwalk features 16 different water attractions, located in the northern section of the 119-year-old Pennsylvania amusement park, including the world\u2019s longest mat racing slides, \u201cWhitecap Racer.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is also home to a 378,000-gallon\u00a0wave pool dubbed, \u201cThe Shore,\u201d\u00a0which deepens to six feet.<\/p>\n

\n
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\"The<\/a>
5 The entrance to The Boardwalk section of the park on July 6, 2007.Tribune News Service via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/a>
5 The Big Bucket Dump and the Shore at The Boardwalk of Hersheypark.Tribune News Service via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The identity of the child was not provided.<\/p>\n

A cause of death was not immediately known.<\/p>\n

Lawn said an internal review will take place in the coming days and the park will fully cooperate with authorities.<\/p>\n

\n
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\"The<\/a>
5 A statement from Hershey Entertainment CEO John Lawn on July 24, 2025.@Hersheypark\/X<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\u201cTo 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,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\n

The tragic death is just the second attributed to an attraction at the century-old park.<\/p>\n

In 1977, a 16-year-old working on the park\u2019s first inverted ride, the SooperdooperLooper, was fatally run over when a coaster train was released as he worked on the track, according to\u00a0the Lebanon Daily News.<\/p>\n

William Harter was repairing a switching mechanism at around 2:15 p.m. on Aug. 25, 1977, when a cart was released and struck him.<\/p>\n

Several guests have been injured at the park over the years, but no other deaths have occurred on the rides.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A 9-year-old child died at Hersheypark\u2019s water park in Pennsylvania on Thursday despite \u201ctireless efforts\u201d to save the young guest, the company announced. Hershey Entertainment CEO John… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22020,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nA day that was meant to be full of laughter and summer fun turned into a heartbreaking tragedy at Hersheypark\u2019s The Boardwalk. A 9-year-old child died after a distressing incident that left families and parkgoers in shock. What started as an ordinary visit to the water park ended in unthinkable sorrow. Witnesses say the atmosphere shifted in an instant\u2014from splashes and smiles to sirens and silence. 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