Tragic Loss: 9-Year-Old Sophia Subedi Identified as Hersheypark Wave Pool Victim

Tragic Loss: 9-Year-Old Sophia Subedi Identified as Hersheypark Wave Pool VictimHERSHEY, PA – The community of Harrisburg is mourning the heartbreaking loss of 9-year-old Sophia Subedi, who has been identified as the young girl who tragically died after being rescued from a Hersheypark wave pool last week.

Sophia, a cherished member of Harrisburg's Bhutanese community, was involved in an incident at The Boardwalk at Hersheypark on Thursday, July 24th. Details surrounding the incident are still limited, but it has been confirmed that she was pulled from the wave pool and, despite immediate rescue efforts, later succumbed.

A representative from the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg (BCH) confirmed Sophia's identity on Monday. The news has sent shockwaves through the close-knit Bhutanese community, which is now rallying to support Sophia's grieving family.

According to the BCH, Sophia Subedi was born in Mount Carmel, Columbus, Ohio, and had been living in Harrisburg with her family since 2022. She had recently completed 3rd grade at North Side Elementary School and was preparing to enter 4th grade this upcoming school year.

"A bright, kind, and loving young girl, Sophia, brought joy and light to everyone who knew her," read a statement from Tilak Niroula, Chairman of the Board for the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg. "Her sudden loss has left our entire community in grief. On behalf of the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg, I extend our deepest condolences to the Subedi family and request the public's prayers, compassion, and support."

The incident prompted the closure of the wave pool at Hersheypark's Boardwalk on Friday, July 25th, the day after Sophia's death. Hersheypark officials and local law enforcement have, out of respect for the family's privacy, refrained from releasing personal details about the victim.

Funeral and memorial services for Sophia Subedi are scheduled to be held on Wednesday, July 30th, at the Jesse H. Geigle Funeral Home in Harrisburg. The community stands together in sorrow, remembering a young life taken far too soon.

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