The park’s wave pool remained closed Friday in the wake of the tragedy, but the rest of the park opened as usual.
A nine-year-old child died after an incident Thursday at Hersheypark amusement park in Pennsylvania, the company’s CEO said. A lifeguard team noticed a child “was in distress” at The Boardwalk at Hersheypark water park, Hershey Entertainment CEO John Lawn said. The child was taken to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, “where despite everyone’s tireless efforts, the child did not recover,” Lawn said.
“We can confirm that the incident occurred at the wave pool within The Boardwalk at Hersheypark,” the park said Friday in a statement. “The wave pool will remain closed today out of respect for the family and deep appreciation of our team members who worked so valiantly in their efforts to save the life of the guest.”
A traumatized witness has recalled the moment she saw a “limp” child being dragged out of a wave pool at Hersheypark’s water park. This was before lifeguards frantically tried but could not save the child, reports New York Post.
“It was 92 degrees and my family had just arrived when I saw a child being pulled, limp, from the wave pool,” the witness, who didn’t want to be named, told WGAL of the heartbreaking moment. The little girl, who was ultimately pronounced dead at a hospital, had apparently gone into distress while in the park’s water attraction Thursday.
ALSO READ: Hersheypark Horror: 9-year-old dies at The Boardwalk water park in gut-wrenching incident. Know what happened
“I later heard this may have been a medical emergency, not a typical drowning, which makes it no less tragic.” “Normally after a day at Hersheypark, I come home exhausted. But last night, I couldn’t sleep. The image of that little (child), and the heartbreak of (the) family, is something I’ll never forget,” the witness added.
ALSO READ: Hersheypark CEO's emotional statement after 9-year-old dies in tragic incident, first death in nearly 50 years
Authorities haven’t yet disclosed the child’s cause of death or what may have led up to the incident.
Cops said they were working with Hersheypark and the Dauphin County Coroner’s Office to probe the fatal incident.
“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,” Hershey Entertainment CEO John Lawn said in a statement. “Our hearts break for this child and the child’s family. We extend our deepest condolences for their loss.”
The park’s wave pool remained closed Friday in the wake of the tragedy, but the rest of the park opened as usual.
“We can confirm that the incident occurred at the wave pool within The Boardwalk at Hersheypark,” the park said Friday in a statement. “The wave pool will remain closed today out of respect for the family and deep appreciation of our team members who worked so valiantly in their efforts to save the life of the guest.”
A traumatized witness has recalled the moment she saw a “limp” child being dragged out of a wave pool at Hersheypark’s water park. This was before lifeguards frantically tried but could not save the child, reports New York Post.
“It was 92 degrees and my family had just arrived when I saw a child being pulled, limp, from the wave pool,” the witness, who didn’t want to be named, told WGAL of the heartbreaking moment. The little girl, who was ultimately pronounced dead at a hospital, had apparently gone into distress while in the park’s water attraction Thursday.
ALSO READ: Hersheypark Horror: 9-year-old dies at The Boardwalk water park in gut-wrenching incident. Know what happened
What did the witness say?
After the child was pulled from the water, staff and security rushed to perform CPR in a bid to save her. “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. Staff did their best to shield onlookers from the trauma, but the weight of the moment was overwhelming,” she said.“I later heard this may have been a medical emergency, not a typical drowning, which makes it no less tragic.” “Normally after a day at Hersheypark, I come home exhausted. But last night, I couldn’t sleep. The image of that little (child), and the heartbreak of (the) family, is something I’ll never forget,” the witness added.
ALSO READ: Hersheypark CEO's emotional statement after 9-year-old dies in tragic incident, first death in nearly 50 years
Authorities haven’t yet disclosed the child’s cause of death or what may have led up to the incident.
Cops said they were working with Hersheypark and the Dauphin County Coroner’s Office to probe the fatal incident.
“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,” Hershey Entertainment CEO John Lawn said in a statement. “Our hearts break for this child and the child’s family. We extend our deepest condolences for their loss.”
The park’s wave pool remained closed Friday in the wake of the tragedy, but the rest of the park opened as usual.
