The death of 9-year-old Sophia Subedi, who tragically drowned at Hersheypark last week, has been officially revealed by the Dauphin County Coroner’s Office.
Sophia died on Thursday, July 24, after getting into difficulty in the wave pool at the popular Pennsylvania amusement park, which is located about 30 minutes from the state capital, Harrisburg. The coroner confirmed that the drowning was not caused by an underlying medical condition, stating: “The decedent did not have a medical event that caused the drowning.”
Officially, her death has now been ruled as an accidental freshwater drowning.
The incident took place in The Shore, Hersheypark’s wave pool, where up to 10 lifeguards were stationed at the time. A spokesperson for the park said all lifeguards on duty were assigned specifically to the wave pool and were certified in deep-water rescue, CPR, AED use, basic life support, and first aid, per the Daily Mail.
Despite immediate intervention from lifeguards, first responders, and medical staff on-site, Sophia could not be revived. She was transported promptly to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead.
John Lawn, CEO of Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, issued a public statement in the aftermath of the incident. “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,” he said.
“To every family who visits Hersheypark, please know this: your safety and well-being drive every decision we make. We will thoroughly investigate this tragedy and honor the memory of this young guest by continuing our focus on guest safety.”
In the days since her death, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Sophia’s family. At the time of writing, it’s raised over $25,500 of its $60,000 target. The page describes her as a joyful and curious child who “brought boundless energy and light into every room she entered.”
Born in 2016 in Columbus, Ohio, Sophia moved with her family to Harrisburg in 2022, where she quickly became a beloved member of her local community.
The campaign adds: “It is with unimaginable sorrow that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of our beloved daughter, sister, student, and friend, Sophia Subedi.”
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the drowning remains ongoing.
READ MORE
- Vikings rookie, 24, and two footballer friends killed in tragic car crash
- Simone Biles’ birth mother begs Olympic gymnast for forgiveness: ‘Let’s move forward’
