Girl, 9, who died in wave pool at chocolate theme park pictured for first time

A nine-year-old girl who tragically died following an incident in a busy wave pool at a Hershey's chocolate theme park has been pictured for the first time.

Sophia Subedi passed away after being seen in "distress" in front of horrified families at The Boardwalk inside Hersheypark in Pennsylvania last Thursday. Lifeguards desperately tried to save the child, who was taken to Milton S. Hershey Medical Centre, but she was later pronounced dead despite the best effort of doctors.

Her cause of death is not known yet, as autopsy results have not been released. The Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg (BCH) confirmed Sophia's identity while describing her as "a bright, kind, and loving young girl" who "brought joy and light to everyone who knew her."

READ MORE: Hersheypark tragedy as child, 9, dies in front of families in horror incident

"Her sudden loss has left our entire community in grief," the BCH said in a statement. Sophia was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 2016 and moved to Harrisburg with her family in 2022. She had just finished third-grade - the American equivalent of Year 4 - and was looking forward to the following school year at North Side Elementary School in Harrisburg.

In a GoFundMe created in memory of Sophia, organiser Sri Adhikari said Sophia had "a love for reading, music, and painting" and "often spoke of her dreams to become a teacher." The tribute said: "Those who knew Sophia remember her not just for her brilliance and curiosity, but also for her compassion.

"She made friends easily and looked out for others - often the first to offer help, share her snacks, or hold someone's hand when they were scared or sad. She loved dancing in the living room with her little cousins, holding her mom's hand on evening walks, and singing along to her favorite Nepali songs on long car rides."

The money raised will be used towards memorial and funeral expenses, the organiser said, adding: "We hope to turn this loss into a legacy - perhaps by supporting children's safety initiatives, advocating for awareness, or creating a small space in her name where kids and families can feel safe, loved, and connected."

A funeral and memorial service will be held at Jesse H. Geigle Funeral Home in Harrisburg on Wednesday, Local 21 News reported. Authorities are working with the park and the local coroner's office to investigate Sophia's death. Hersheypark temporarily closed the wave pool out of respect for the grieving family, but reopened it on Sunday, according to WGAL.

After Sophia's death, the CEO of the waterpark, John Lawn, said in a statement: "From the moment that our lifeguard team recognised 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.

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

"As we grieve alongside our community, we ask for privacy for the family and for our team members who are deeply affected by this loss. We will provide updates as appropriate, and we will continue to work to support everyone involved. In the coming days, we will conduct a thorough internal review and cooperate fully with authorities. The safety of our guests has always been our highest priority."

Hersheypark, which is affiliated with the well-known chocolate brand, is the biggest waterpark in Pennsylvania. The attraction features 16 different water rides and sections including a 378,000-gallon wave pool. Some of its most popular rides include the Whitecap Racer, which allows visitors to race on mats.