HERSHEY, Pa. (WHTM) – A nine-year-old child died after an incident at The Boardwalk at Hersheypark on Thursday afternoon, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts announced.

The Boardwalk at Hersheypark is a water park in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

“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 by our lifeguards, on‑site first responders, and medical personnel,” John Lawn, CEO of Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, said. “The child was transported without delay to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where despite everyone’s tireless efforts, the child did not recover.”

“Our hearts break for this child and the child’s family,” Lawn continued. “We extend our deepest condolences for their loss. Out of respect for their privacy, we will not release any personal details at this time.”

Lawn said the safety of guests at the park “has always been our highest priority” and an internal review will be conducted.

“To every family who visits Hersheypark, please know this: your safety and well‑being drive every decision we make,” Lawn said. “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.”

The waterpark, called The Boardwalk, features 16 different water attractions including the world’s longest mat racing slides, “Whitecap Racer,” and a 378,000-gallon wave pool called “The Shore,” which goes to a depth of six feet.