Cause of Death Found for Girl Who Died at Hersheypark

UPDATE Jul 30, 2025 5:39 AM CDT

A 9-year-old girl who died at Hersheypark last week was determined to have accidentally drowned in fresh water, according to an autopsy. "The decedent did not have a medical event that caused the drowning," says Vincent Paese, deputy chief clerk for the Dauphin County Commissioners, per WGAL News 8. Meanwhile, the child involved in Thursday's accident has been identified as Sophia Subedi, a rising fourth-grader born in Ohio but a resident of Harrisburg since 2022, reports the outlet. "A bright, kind, and loving young girl, Sophia brought joy and light to everyone who knew her," reads a statement from a family rep. "Her sudden loss has left our entire community in grief." People notes that an investigation continues.

Jul 25, 2025 7:09 AM CDT

An amusement park tragedy: A 9-year-old died Thursday evening on a visit to Hersheypark in Pennsylvania, reports ABC News. The park hasn't yet revealed details on what happened, except that the child was found in distress while in the water park area known as the Boardwalk. The area has 16 water attractions, including a water slide and a wave pool, but it was not clear which one the child may have been on, per Fox News.

"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 a statement from Hershey Entertainment & Resorts CEO John Lawn. The child could not be revived at the park and was pronounced dead at a hospital near the park in Hershey.