By Madison Montag, pennlive.com (TNS)
The 9-year-old girl who died at the Boardwalk at Hersheypark on Thursday was a member of the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg (BCH), according to a spokesperson.
Tilak Niroula, chairman of BCH, said the girl’s death marks an “unimaginably difficult time” in their community. First responders were called to Hersheypark wave pool around 6:45 p.m. Thursday for the incident.
“It is with profound sorrow and heavy hearts that the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg (BCH) shares the heartbreaking news of the untimely passing of a beloved 9-year-old girl, a resident of our Harrisburg-based Bhutanese community. The child tragically lost her life in a devastating incident that occurred at Hersheypark,” the statement said.
As of Saturday, the girl’s name and cause and manner of death have not been released publicly. Her death was the first guest fatality at Hersheypark in its 119 years.
“At just nine years old, she was full of promise, innocence, and joy—a light in the lives of all who knew her. Her sudden and tragic departure has left a deep void in our hearts and in the community she was so warmly a part of,” the statement said. “Our entire community is grieving alongside the family during this unimaginably difficult time. 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.”
A witness told WGAL they had just arrived at the wave pool about 6:45 p.m. Thursday, when it was still 92 degrees, and they “saw a child being pulled, limp, from the wave pool.
“Lifeguards blew their whistles, evacuating everyone, and within moments, staff and security rushed to help.”
A male lifeguard performed CPR for several minutes, then stopped, “clearly shaken,” the witness said.
The wave pool was closed after the girl’s death.
“We kindly ask the public and media to respect the family’s privacy as they navigate this period of intense sorrow and reflection. Out of respect for the grieving process, we also urge community members to hold space for compassion and healing. May her soul rest in eternal peace, and may her family find strength and comfort in the support of those around them,” the statement said.
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Source: Berkshire mont