Young boy rescued from Hersheypark elevated monorail track
A young boy was rescued as he walked along an elevated monorail track at the Hersheypark theme park in Hershey, Pa., Saturday in a moment caught on video.
According to a statement from park officials, the boy was reported missing just after 5 p.m. ET Saturday after becoming separated from his parents.
"While our team was actively searching, the child entered a secured area for the Monorail, which was not in operation," the park statement said, adding that the ride was closed and barricaded at the time.
"The child remained at the closed station for about 20 minutes before briefly walking along the track," the park statement continued. "A guest quickly noticed and helped guide the child to safety."
The video, captured by a park attendee, shows the boy walking back and forth along the elevated monorail track. A bystander then climbs atop a nearby building and then onto the track, where he takes the boy into his arms and lowers him to safety with the assitance of another bystander.
"Our team members immediately responded after he was spotted on the tracks, and at approximately 5:28 p.m. the child was safely reunited with his family. He was unharmed," the Hersheypark statement said.
"We are grateful for the vigilance of our guests and the swift response of our team, and we remain committed to maintaining the highest levels of guest safety throughout Hersheypark," the park statement concluded.
Just over one month ago, a 9-year-old girl drowned in the wave pool at Hersheypark in a death that was ultimately ruled accidental.
A review by police concluded that the park upheld safety standards and that the number of people in the wave pool at the time was "significantly less than its designed maximum capacity," according to a Derry Township Police statement released on Aug. 1.
