by The little girl who died in a wave pool at Hersheypark was identified as 9-year-old Sophia Subedi, the Bhutanese community said in a statement Monday.
“A bright, kind, and loving young girl, Sophia, brought joy and light to everyone who knew her. Her sudden loss has left our entire community in grief,” said Bhutanese Community of Harrisburg in a press release.
Sophia had just finished the third-grade and was looking forward to the following school year at North Side Elementary School in Harrisburg, where she had lived since 2022 after moving with her family from Ohio.
“A bright student with a love for reading, music, and painting, 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,” according to a fundraiser started to help the family with funeral costs and in her honor.
The child was pulled from the water “limp” and lifeguards began immediate efforts to save her last Thursday but she later died at the hospital.
It was not yet clear what the cause of Subedi’s death was or what led up to her medical emergency at the park.
Authorities are working with the park and the local coroner’s office in investigating the death.
