After a nine-year-old child tragically died at Pennsylvania's Hersheypark, witnesses have spoken out about what unfolded at the scene.
The tragic incident occured on Thursday (July 24) at The Boardwalk, a themed section of the park that includes The Shore, a 378,000-gallon wave pool with depths reaching six feet.
Lifeguards spotted the child in trouble and launched what officials described as 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,” said Hershey Entertainment CEO John Lawn.
The child was rushed to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.
"Our hearts break for this child and the child’s family. We extend our deepest condolences for their loss," the statement continued. "Out of respect for their privacy we will not release any personal details at this time."
One witness, who asked to remain anonymous, described the terrifying moment she saw the young girl being pulled from the water. “It was 92 degrees and my family had just arrived when I saw a child being pulled, limp, from the wave pool,” she told WGAL.
“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," they added.
Lawn confirmed the park will conduct an internal investigation and continue to work with the Dauphin County Coroner’s Office.
“To every family that visits Hersheypark, please know this: your safety and well-being drive every decision we make,” he said. "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."
The Derry Township Police Department is assisting the park and the Dauphin County Coroner's Office and said in a statement that they are "still on the early stages of this process, and we are working to gather all of the facts".
The wave pool was closed on Friday (July 25), though the rest of the park remained open.
The incident is only the second fatality connected to a Hersheypark attraction in the park’s 119-year history.
The first occurred on August 25, 1977, when a 16-year-old worker named William Harter was killed while servicing the SooperdooperLooper roller coaster. The teen was repairing a switching mechanism around 2:15PM when a cart was released and struck him, per the Lebanon Daily News.
Several guests have been injured at the park over the years, but no other deaths have occurred on the rides.