The 9-year old who died last week at the Hersheypark water park in Pennsylvania has been identified
The victim, Sophia Subedi, was from Harrisburg, and was set to enter fourth grade
CEO of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts John Lawn has vowed to thoroughly investigate the tragedy and emphasizes safety as his top priority
The 9-year old child who died after an incident at the Hersheypark water park in Pennsylvania has been identified by the chairman of a local Harrisburg organization.
On Monday, July 28, the young victim was identified as Sophia Subedi by a spokesperson from the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg (BCH), according to reports from NBC affiliate WGAL, FOX affiliate WPMT and CBS affiliate WHP.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, Subedi moved with her family to Harrisburg in 2022, and recently finished third grade at North Side Elementary School. She was sent to enter fourth grade in the upcoming school year, according to the outlets.
“A bright, kind, and loving young girl, Sophia brought joy and light to everyone who knew her,” BCH Chairman Tilak Niroula said in a statement shared with WPMT. “Her sudden loss has left our entire community in grief.”
The 9-year-old child was visiting The Boardwalk at Hersheypark on Thursday, July 24, when she became “in distress” in the water, according to a statement by John Lawn, the CEO of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts. (A park representative later confirmed that the incident occurred at the wave pool, where there were 10 dedicated lifeguards.)
The CEO said in a statement released on Friday, July 25, that from the moment the 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.”
Sophia was immediately rushed to the nearby Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, but did not survive.
His statement concluded, “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 ensuring the safety of our guests at Hersheypark.”
Visitors to the boardwalk at Hersheypark are treated to an ocean side ambiance in the hills of Hershey
Hersheypark boardwalk.
Max W. Orenstein/Allentown Morning Call/Tribune News Service via Getty
The water park area of Hersheypark features 16 water rides and pools, as well as multiple slides. It also boasts a 378,000-gallon wave pool among other attractions.
Sophia’s death is part of a handful of fatal incidents that have taken place at Hersheypark, which first opened its doors in 1907. The last death at the park occurred in 1977 and involved a maintenance worker, according to the Lebanon Daily News.
The Derry Township Police Department confirms to PEOPLE that an investigation into the fatal incident is ongoing. The Dauphin County Coroner’s Office had no comment on the ongoing investigation when previously contacted by PEOPLE.
In a GoFundMe page created to support the young girl’s family, Sophia is described as a “bright student,” who loved to read, listen to music and paint.
“Sophia often spoke of her dreams to become a teacher — someone who could share knowledge and kindness with others the way her favorite teachers did with her,” wrote the organizer, who did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
“Those who knew Sophia remember her not just for her brilliance and curiosity, but also for her compassion,” the creator of the donation page continued. “She made friends easily and looked out for others — often the first to offer help, share her snacks, or hold someone’s hand when they were scared or sad.”
According to the GoFundMe page, Sophia loved dancing with her younger cousins, singing along to her favorite Nepali songs, and “holding her mom’s hand on evening walks.”