9-Year-Old Dies at Hersheypark Water Park: ‘Our Hearts Break’

A 9-year-old child has died following a tragic incident at Hersheypark’s water park in Pennsylvania.

According to a statement released Friday by John Lawn, CEO of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, the child was visiting The Boardwalk at Hersheypark on Thursday, July 24, when they became “in distress” in the water.

“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 wrote.

He went on to say the parkgoer was transported “without delay” to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where, “despite everyone’s tireless efforts, the child did not recover.”

The name of the child was not provided, nor was a cause of death given.

“Our hearts break for this child and the child’s family,” Lawn continued. “We extend our deepest condolences for their loss. Out of respect for their privacy, we will not release any personal details at this time.”

Lawn also did not name the specific attraction involved. PEOPLE has reached out for comment.

The water park area of Hersheypark — open Memorial Day through Labor Day — features 16 water rides and pools, including multiple slides, a 378,000-gallon wave pool, an all-ages water fun playground, a winding lazy river with waterfalls and Whitecap Racer, dubbed “the longest mat racing slide in the world.”

The child’s death is one of only a handful of fatal incidents in the history of Hersheypark, which opened in 1907. According to the Lebanon Daily News, the last death at the park occurred in 1977 and involved a maintenance worker.

In his statement, Lawn reaffirmed the company’s commitment to safety, calling it “our highest priority.”

“In the coming days, we will conduct a thorough internal review and cooperate fully with authorities,” he said. “As we grieve alongside our community, we ask for privacy for the family and for our team members who are deeply affected by this loss. We will provide updates as appropriate, and we will continue to work to support everyone involved.”

“To every family who visits Hersheypark, please know this: your safety and well-being drive every decision we make,” the statement concluded. “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.”