DAUPHIN COUNTY — 9-Year-Old Dies at Hersheypark Water Attraction

DAUPHIN COUNTY, PA (July 24, 2025) — A 9-year-old child died Thursday evening after an incident at The Boardwalk water park area at Hersheypark.

According to Hersheypark CEO John Lawn, the child “was tragically lost at The Boardwalk at Hersheypark” on Thursday evening. Lifeguards immediately recognized the child was in distress and performed an immediate rescue, followed by continuous life-saving efforts by lifeguards, on-site first responders, and medical personnel.

The child was transported to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center where, despite the life-saving efforts, the child was pronounced dead.

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

The Boardwalk features 16 different water attractions including the world’s longest mat racing slides and a 378,000-gallon wave pool called “The Shore,” which reaches a depth of six feet.

The Derry Township Police Department is assisting Hersheypark and the Dauphin County Coroner’s Office with the ongoing investigation. Hersheypark has announced it will conduct a thorough internal review and cooperate fully with authorities.

Water Park Safety and Premises Liability in Pennsylvania

Navigating the aftermath of a tragic accident requires specialized legal knowledge. Insurance companies often attempt to minimize payouts, even in devastating circumstances.

Understanding common safety issues at water parks can help raise awareness about preventable tragedies:

• Inadequate Supervision: Insufficient lifeguard coverage or poorly trained staff can lead to delayed response times in emergencies.
• Dangerous Attractions: Wave pools, deep water areas, and high-speed slides can create hazardous conditions for young children.
• Poor Visibility: Crowded conditions and water turbulence can make it difficult for lifeguards to spot swimmers in distress.
• Lack of Safety Equipment: Missing or inadequate safety barriers, depth markers, and emergency equipment.
• Inadequate Warning Signs: Failure to properly warn guests about water depths, age restrictions, and potential dangers.
• Maintenance Issues: Poor water quality, broken equipment, or faulty drainage systems that can create unsafe conditions.

If your family has been affected by a tragic accident at an amusement park or water facility in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania premises liability attorneys at Munley Law can help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Note: Our team of writers uses secondary sources to produce this post, including local and state media and news sources, regional and state police incident reports, social media platforms, and eyewitness accounts about serious accidents in Pennsylvania. For that reason, if you find any information that is not correct, be sure to contact Munley Law as soon as possible so that we can update the post with the most exact information available. A post will be removed upon request. All information in this post is informational and not intended to be considered legal or medical advice. This post is not a solicitation for business.

Disclaimer: All information in this post is informational and is not intended to be considered legal or medical advice. This post is not a solicitation for business.