Police Confirm Accidental Drowning at Hersheypark

Police have concluded their investigation into the July 24 drowning of 9-year-old Sophia Subedi at Hersheypark’s wave pool, determining her death was an accidental freshwater drowning with no criminal activity or safety standard violations by Hersheypark or its staff. The park maintained proper safety protocols, including a well-trained lifeguard team, and the number of guests in the wave pool was significantly below its maximum capacity at the time of the incident. Lifeguards and bystanders responded within seconds when Sophia was seen in distress, initiating immediate rescue and resuscitation efforts. The Dauphin County Coroner confirmed that there was no underlying medical event that contributed to the drowning. Sophia’s death marks the first guest fatality in Hersheypark’s 119-year history, and the tragedy has deeply impacted the Bhutanese community in Harrisburg, who have gathered to honor her memory. Authorities and Hersheypark officials have extended their condolences to Sophia's family and community, and a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support her family.