Latest news with #JohnLawn
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Child, 9, dies after incident at Hersheypark Boardwalk, police investigating tragic death
The Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company reported Thursday evening that a 9-year-old was "tragically lost" at The Boardwalk at Hersheypark. According to officials, the 9-year-old was found by Boardwalk lifeguards at the wave pool within the Boardwalk area. The child was transported to Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center, where officials said the child did not recover. "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," John Lawn, CEO, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, said in a statement Thursday. The wave pool was closed Friday after the incident. Hershey officials said that there were 10 lifeguards specifically dedicated to the wave pool at the time of the incident. "The specific lifeguards stationed at the wave pool received the highest level of training and certification from E&A, known as Special Facility Training, which includes deep-water lifeguarding, Basic Life Support, AED use, supplemental oxygen support, CPR, and First Aid," officials said in an updated release Friday. "Additionally, as part of Hersheypark's commitment to water safety, complimentary life vests are also available to all of our guests." Officials added there were over 100 Ellis & Associates-trained lifeguards in the Boardwalk area at the time of the incident. The park employs 19 Certified Lifeguard Instructors and one Instructor Trainer to "ensure all team members meet rigorous safety standards." The Derry Township Police Department issued a statement Friday saying they are assisting Hersheypark and the Dauphin County Coroner's Office with their review into the death of the 9-year-old child. The name of that child has not been made public. "We are still on the early stages of this process, and we are working to gather all of the facts in the incident," police said. "Our thoughts and our hearts are with the family and friends of this young life, lost too soon." WGAL reported that a witness, whom the station did not identify, described seeing a child being "pulled, limp, from the wave pool." Hershey Entertainment officials said they will be conducting a "thorough internal review" of the incident in the coming days, and will cooperate fully with authorities. "The safety of our guests has always been our highest priority. In the coming days, we will conduct a thorough internal review and cooperate fully with authorities. "Our hearts break for this child and the child's family. 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 said in his release. This story has been updated with new information. This is an ongoing story. Please check back for updates. Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ or on X at @DAMattToth. This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: 9-year-old child dies after Boardwalk at Hersheypark incident
UPI
a day ago
- Health
- UPI
Girl, 9, dies after incident in Hersheypark's wave pool
July 25 (UPI) -- A 9-year-old girl died after being in distress at Hersheypark's wave pool near Pennsylvania's state capital of Harrisburg. The incident occurred Thursday at The Boardwalk water park, which also includes slides and a lazy river. The Shore wave pool is 378,000 gallons, the largest in the state, and is up to 6 feet deep. Hershey Enterainment & Resorts Company didn't give details on what happened. "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," CEO John Lawn said in a message. The girl was taken to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, "where despite everyone's tireless efforts, the child did not recover," Lawn said. Authorities did not identify her. In an updated statement Friday, the park said the wave pool within The Boardwalk will remain closed that day "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." Ten lifeguards were dedicated to the wave pool at the time of the incident, the park said. Also, complimentary life vests were available. On Thursday, Lawn said park employees were investigating the incident. "The safety of our guests has always been our highest priority," he said. "In the coming days, we will conduct a thorough internal review and cooperate with authorities." The park was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1927 "as leisure grounds for employees of Hersehy's Chocolate Factory," according to the park's website. The 121-acre amusement park includes 15 roller-coasters. It is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. "To every family who visits Hersheypark, please know this: your safety and well-being drive each decision we make," Lawn 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 Hershepark."
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Little girl, 9, who was 'light of our lives' dies after freak tragedy in Hersheypark wave pool
The 9-year-old child who died after being pulled from the wave pool at Pennsylvania 's Hersheypark has been identified as a young girl from Harrisburg. While her name has not been released publicly, 'out of respect for the family,' community leaders have confirmed she was a beloved member of the local Bhutanese population. The young girl was 'in distress' in the wave pool before she died, authorities said. 'Our hearts break for this child and the child's family. We extend our deepest condolences for their loss. Out of respect for their privacy, we will not release any personal details at this time,' a statement from CEO of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, John Lawn, said. The iconic theme park released a statement of its own on Saturday, commending the lifesaving efforts of park staff and extending condolences to the grieving family. 'We can confirm that the incident occurred at the wave pool within The Boardwalk at Hersheypark. 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,' an updated statement from Hersheypark reads. Hersheypark said there were over 100 trained lifeguards at the park at the time of the tragic incident, including '10 lifeguards specifically dedicated to the wave pool' attraction. 'There were over 100 E&A-trained lifeguards in the Boardwalk at the time of the incident. There were 10 lifeguards specifically dedicated to the wave pool at the time of the incident. 'The specific lifeguards stationed at the wave pool received the highest level of training and certification from E&A, known as Special Facility Training, which includes deep-water lifeguarding, Basic Life Support, AED use, supplemental oxygen support, CPR, and First Aid. Additionally, as part of Hersheypark's commitment to water safety, complimentary life vests are also available to all of our guests,' the park said. Now, the young girl - described as 'full of promise, innocence, and joy' - is being remembered by members of her local community. 'At just nine years old, she was full of promise, innocence, and joy – a light in the lives of all who knew her,' Tilak Niroula, chairman of the Board for the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg, announced on the group's Facebook page. 'Her sudden and tragic departure has left a deep void in our hearts and in the community she was so warmly a part of. Our entire community is grieving alongside the family during this unimaginably difficult time,' he continued. The young girl - described as 'full of promise, innocence, and joy' - is being remembered by members of her local community 'Words cannot fully capture the depth of our pain, but we are united in our mourning and committed to standing with the family in love, prayer and support.' The girl had been visiting The Boardwalk at Hersheypark on Thursday, July 24, when she became 'in distress' in the water, according to a statement from the park's parent company CEO. '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. After park staff performed life-saving measures, the young girl was taken to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. However, it remains unclear at this time how the child died. The Derry Township Police Department and the Dauphin County Coroner's Office said they are continuing their investigation into the incident, as park officials say they will 'fully cooperate' and even 'conduct an internal review' of their own. 'The Derry Township Police Department is assisting Hersheypark and the Dauphin County Coroner's Office with their review into the death of a 9-year-old child at The Boardwalk at Hersheypark on the evening of July 24, 2025. 'We are still on the early stages of this process, and we are working to gather all of the facts in the incident. 'Our thoughts and our hearts are with the family and friends of this young life, lost too soon,' the Derry Township Police Department said. The 9-year-old girl's death marks the first fatality at the park since 1977. The Boardwalk area of the park features 16 water attractions, including a 378,000-gallon wave pool called 'The Shore,' which reaches a depth of six feet.
Global News
4 days ago
- Health
- Global News
9-year-old child dies in accident at U.S. water park
A nine-year-old girl died after an incident in a wave pool at a water park in central Pennsylvania on Thursday night, though her cause of death has not been confirmed. John Lawn, the CEO of Hersheypark, where the event occurred, said in a statement on X late Thursday that a 'guest was tragically lost' on the premises. A message from our CEO — Hersheypark (@Hersheypark) July 25, 2025 Story continues below advertisement According to the statement, lifeguard personnel sprang into action when they noticed a child in distress and did all they could to resuscitate them. 'They performed an immediate rescue, followed by continuous, coordinated life-saving efforts by our lifeguards, on-site first responders, and medical personnel,' the statement continued. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The child was transported to a nearby hospital, where she died. 'Our heart breaks for this child and the child's family. We extend our deepest condolences for their loss,' Lawn added, without disclosing the name of the child, only that the incident occurred on The Boardwalk at Hersheypark, where the wave pool is located. The New York Times reported Friday that park officials said that at the time the incident occurred, more than 100 trained lifeguards were on-duty in the water park, including ten at the wave pool. According to the park, its lifeguards are trained in deepwater lifeguarding, basic life support, automated external defibrillator, or A.E.D. use, supplemental oxygen support, CPR and first aid. The Boardwalk is a themed area within the broader park and contains several features, including a seven-storey tall water play structure with seven body waterslides, two tipping buckets and hundreds of different water play-toys, a tube waterslide tower featuring four different waterslides, a children's play area as well as a lazy river. Story continues below advertisement According to its website, the amusement park has been operational for 115 years and is home to 15 rollercoasters and a large-scale water park, including the 378,000-gallon wave pool, an attraction known as the Bayside Pier with fountains, tipping cones and splash area, a watercoaster and several waterslides. According to People, only a small number of fatal incidents have been recorded throughout the park's more than century-long history. The outlet cited a report from 47 years ago, which involved the death of a maintenance worker who reportedly was hit by a newly opened rollercoaster in 1977. Lawn, in his statement, reaffirmed the park's commitment to ensuring the safety of its guests, saying they are the park's 'highest priority,' and that an in-depth investigation is underway in which the park intends to fully cooperate with authorities. Story continues below advertisement '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,' Lawn said. 'To every family who visits Hersheypark, please know this: your safety and well-being drive every decision we make,' he continued. '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,' Lawn concluded.
UPI
4 days ago
- Health
- UPI
Girl, 9. dies after incident in Hersheypark's wave pool
July 25 (UPI) -- A 9-year-old girl died after being in distress at Hersheypark's wave pool near Pennsylvania's state capital of Harrisburg. The incident occurred Thursday at The Boardwalk water park, which also includes slides and a lazy river. The Shore wave pool is 378,000 gallons, the largest in the state, and is up to 6 feet deep. Hershey Enterainment & Resorts Company didn't give details on what happened. "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," CEO John Lawn said in a message. The girl was taken to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, "where despite everyone's tireless efforts, the child did not recover," Lawn said. Authorities did not identify her. In an updated statement Friday, the park said the wave pool within The Boardwalk will remain closed that day "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." Ten lifeguards were dedicated to the wave pool at the time of the incident, the park said. Also, complimentary life vests were available. On Thursday, Lawn said park employees were investigating the incident. "The safety of our guests has always been our highest priority," he said. "In the coming days, we will conduct a thorough internal review and cooperate with authorities." The park was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1927 "as leisure grounds for employees of Hersehy's Chocolate Factory," according to the park's website. The 121-acre amusement park includes 15 roller-coasters. It is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. "To every family who visits Hersheypark, please know this: your safety and well-being drive each decision we make," Lawn 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 Hershepark."
