Pennsylvania man climbs onto 100-ft monorail tracks to save lost child at Hersheypark

A child who wandered onto the monorail tracks at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania was rescued Saturday evening after several bystanders noticed the situation and intervened to save him.

According to a report by ABC News, park officials said the boy had been reported missing shortly after 5 pm when he became separated from his parents. While park staff were searching, he entered a secured area of the monorail, which was closed and barricaded at the time.

"The child remained at the closed station for about 20 minutes before briefly walking along the track," Hersheypark said in a statement. "A guest quickly noticed and helped guide the child to safety."

“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 park statement continued. "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 incident comes one month after a tragic event where a 9-year-old girl drowned in a wave pool at the park. Authorities ruled the death an accident, with a police review finding Hersheypark maintained safety standards and that the number of swimmers in the pool at the time was “significantly less than its designed maximum capacity.”