After days of investigation, the **Dauphin County Coroner’s Office** has officially ruled that **9‑year‑old Sophia Subedi** died from an **accidental freshwater drowning**, not from any medical condition. She passed away following an incident in Hersheypark’s wave pool on **July 24, 2025**, confirming her death was due entirely to drowning People reports and local station **WPVI/6ABC** verifies the coroner’s findings per 6ABC TV coverage.
Sophia was visiting the waterpark area known as **The Boardwalk**, where a massive 378,000‑gallon wave pool called “The Shore” reaches depths of up to six feet. According to Hersheypark, there were **over 100 certified lifeguards** on duty across The Boardwalk—including **10 stationed specifically at the wave pool**—who responded immediately when she appeared in distress NBC Philadelphia explains the staff response.
A harrowing eyewitness account shared with **NBC affiliate WGAL** described how lifeguards blew their whistles to clear the pool, pulled Sophia from the water **“limp,”** and began CPR on a gurney with intense focus. After multiple attempts, she was rushed to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and pronounced dead NBC details the timeline and **People** captures the moment from onlookers in vivid eyewitness quotes.
“It was unbearable. Watching her pulled out limp… they worked so hard to save her.”
In a heartfelt statement, **Hershey Entertainment & Resorts CEO John Lawn** expressed sorrow over the incident—Hersheypark’s first guest fatality since 1977—and vowed full cooperation with local authorities and an internal review of safety protocols The Sun outlines Lawn’s response and UNILAD emphasizes the pledge as reported.
Sophia was identified by the **Bhutanese Community of Harrisburg** as a bright, gentle third-grader who had moved from Columbus, Ohio in 2022. She loved painting, Nepali music, books, and dreamed of becoming a teacher—her loss has left local leaders and classmates devastated People’s profile of Sophia and **Fox43 Harrisburg** coverage confirms her identity per local news.
A GoFundMe memorial campaign has been launched to support Sophia’s family, honor her memory, and promote child water safety programming in her name—a call echoed by community leaders striving to turn grief into safety advocacy.
Water safety experts underscore the unpredictable nature of drownings—even in well-supervised wave pools. Sudden depth changes, exhaustion from wave motion, or undercurrents can overwhelm even competent swimmers. Experts call for continuous vigilance, improved line-of-sight for lifeguards, and enforced rest protocols near deep water NBC context on water risks.
As both the **Derry Township Police Department** and the coroner maintain their investigations, Hersheypark has temporarily closed the wave pool out of respect and reassurance for guests. The broader park continues normal operations with enhanced safety messaging and oversight.
For Sophia’s family and community, the confirmation of drowning is heartbreaking—but it also grants clarity. It emphasizes the critical need for ongoing water safety education, vigilant infrastructure, and community remembrance.
Hersheypark’s leadership reiterates: guest safety is paramount—and Sophia’s memory will shape future improvements.
