Dr. John Sampson of Richboro Veterinary Hospital (Credit: Richboro Vet Hospital)
A family trip to Hersheypark nearly turned tragic last weekend when a young boy, believed to be autistic, climbed onto the park’s non-operational monorail and wandered more than 20 feet above the ground.
The frightening scene quickly drew screams from bystanders and a viral video — until one guest stepped forward to save him.
That guest was Dr. John Sampson, a Bucks County veterinarian and Warwick Township father of two, who said his instincts simply took over.
“I just think I’m a guy who, once again, right place, right time, saw a child in need and wanted to help,” Sampson, an Eagles fan, told 6ABC. “I was just saying, ‘You’re OK, I’ve got you now.’ I was trying to soothe him like any dad would if your kid was in trouble.”
A harrowing scene at Hersheypark
The child had been reported missing after becoming separated from his mother, according to Hersheypark officials. About 20 minutes later, park guests spotted him walking on the monorail tracks, which were shut down for the day. Witnesses said the boy appeared disoriented as he moved across the elevated rails.
Videos shared on social media showed Sampson scaling a nearby building, climbing onto the track and carefully extending his arms until the boy was safely in his grasp. Cheers erupted from the crowd below as Sampson led the child to safety.
His wife, Dr. Stephanie Ravin, said the moment was heart-stopping: “We started to hear screams, not the kind of happy screams you expect to hear at Hersheypark. It was like true, terrifying screams.”
Hersheypark released a statement thanking guests for their vigilance but has not commented further. The child’s family later reached out directly to Sampson to express their gratitude.
Autism awareness and wandering risks
The National Autism Association highlighted wandering is a common and dangerous behavior for children on the spectrum. The group noted that nationally, about seven children with autism die each month in the U.S. due to wandering-related accidents, emphasizing how close this incident came to tragedy.
The man behind the rescue
Sampson, 39, is the owner of Richboro Veterinary Hospital, a Northampton Township family-owned practice founded in 1976. A Fargo, North Dakota native, he studied at the University of North Dakota before pursuing veterinary medicine in Antigua and Scotland, where he completed his degree at the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
Screenshot of videoBefore veterinary school, Sampson worked as a zookeeper — experience he credits with teaching him to act quickly under pressure. After an internship and several years in practice in New York, he moved to Bucks County with his wife, Dr. Ravin, who grew up in the area. In 2021, he purchased Richboro Veterinary Hospital, continuing its long tradition of animal care.
At home in Jamison, Sampson and Ravin are raising two children, Stirling and Beckett, along with a rescue dog from the Caribbean and two orange cats.
On Saturday, he said, it was simply “dad instincts” that kicked in.
“That’s what I think anybody would try to do,” he told 6ABC. “Any parent would want to save any child, whether it’s theirs or not.”
According to People, the boy's parents have reached out to Sampson to thank him.
“They reached out to me this morning, so we were able to talk, and, obviously, [there was] a lot of thanks and everything, which was wonderful,” Sampson said on Monday. “And I’m so happy to hear that he’s obviously back with his family, which is the biggest thing out of all of this.”
