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ORLANDO, Fla. – A SeaWorld killer whale seized a trainer in its jaws Wednesday and thrashed the woman around underwater, killing her in front of a horrified audience. It marked the third time the animal had been involved in a human death.
Distraught audience members were hustled out of the stadium immediately, and the park was closed.
Trainer Dawn Brancheau, 40, was one of the park's most experienced. It was not clear if she drowned or died from the thrashing.
A former contractor with SeaWorld told the Orlando Sentinel that the whale, Tilikum, is typically kept isolated from SeaWorld's other killer whales and that trainers were not allowed to get in the water with him because of his violent history.
There were conflicting accounts of the attack. The sheriff's office said Brancheau slipped or fell into the whale's tank, but at least one witness said the animal leaped from the water and dragged the woman in.
A retired couple from Michigan told The Associated Press that Wednesday's killing happened as a noontime show was winding down, with some in the audience staying to watch the animals and trainers.
Spectator Eldon Skaggs said Brancheau was on a platform with the whale and was massaging it. He said the interaction appeared leisurely and informal.
Then, Skaggs said, the whale "pulled her under and started swimming around with her."
Skaggs said an alarm sounded and staff rushed the audience out of the stadium as workers scrambled around with nets.
Skaggs said he heard that during an earlier show the whale was not responding to directions. Others who attended the earlier show said the whale was behaving like an ornery child.
The couple left and did not find out until later that the trainer had died.
"We were just a little bit stunned," said Skaggs' wife, Sue Nichols.
Sorry but there is a reason these things are called Killer Whales.
Shout, Shout, Let it all Out, These are the Things I Can do Without You Shouldn't Have to Jump for Joy, You Shouldn't Have to Shout for Joy
They Give You Life and in Return You Gave 'em Hell As Cold as Ice - No Bitch, You're Ice Ice Baby I Hope We Live to Tell the Tale, I Hope We Live to Shout the Tale
Will You Never Shout? And When You've Taken Down Your Guard... If I Could Change Your Mind, I'd Really Love to Break Your Heart! Come On Let Me Shout Shout Let Me, Come On Let Me Shout Shout!
Re: Whale kills trainer as horrified spectators watch
I don't think it was provoked.
The way they were saying made it seem like it came out of nowhere.
This woman was a senior trainer, she would have recognized hostility in the animals.
Therefore I conclude it came out of nowhere.
Sadly, even the tamest of animals can have tempers. Animals have been known to attack unprovoked.
Shout, Shout, Let it all Out, These are the Things I Can do Without You Shouldn't Have to Jump for Joy, You Shouldn't Have to Shout for Joy
They Give You Life and in Return You Gave 'em Hell As Cold as Ice - No Bitch, You're Ice Ice Baby I Hope We Live to Tell the Tale, I Hope We Live to Shout the Tale
Will You Never Shout? And When You've Taken Down Your Guard... If I Could Change Your Mind, I'd Really Love to Break Your Heart! Come On Let Me Shout Shout Let Me, Come On Let Me Shout Shout!
Re: Whale kills trainer as horrified spectators watch
I don't know. They should kill it though.
Shout, Shout, Let it all Out, These are the Things I Can do Without You Shouldn't Have to Jump for Joy, You Shouldn't Have to Shout for Joy
They Give You Life and in Return You Gave 'em Hell As Cold as Ice - No Bitch, You're Ice Ice Baby I Hope We Live to Tell the Tale, I Hope We Live to Shout the Tale
Will You Never Shout? And When You've Taken Down Your Guard... If I Could Change Your Mind, I'd Really Love to Break Your Heart! Come On Let Me Shout Shout Let Me, Come On Let Me Shout Shout!
Shout, Shout, Let it all Out, These are the Things I Can do Without You Shouldn't Have to Jump for Joy, You Shouldn't Have to Shout for Joy
They Give You Life and in Return You Gave 'em Hell As Cold as Ice - No Bitch, You're Ice Ice Baby I Hope We Live to Tell the Tale, I Hope We Live to Shout the Tale
Will You Never Shout? And When You've Taken Down Your Guard... If I Could Change Your Mind, I'd Really Love to Break Your Heart! Come On Let Me Shout Shout Let Me, Come On Let Me Shout Shout!
Re: Whale kills trainer as horrified spectators watch
Those of you who are saying 'kill it' ... why on earth would you? If you were taken from your home and forced to do tricks infront of crowds of people against your will - would you feel complete and utter calm towards your captors?
_______________________________
Come here my star is fading
And I swerve out of control
And I swear I waited and waited
I've got to get out of this hole
Re: Whale kills trainer as horrified spectators watch
^^^^^
this with a cherry on top.
wtf are you on about kill it... you lock it up and take it from its natural habitat. then you get supprised when it lashes out.. and acts like a WILD animal?
what the hells wrong with just letting it free.
if anything the people keeping it there are the animals and there the ones who need to be put down.
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Whale kills trainer as horrified spectators watch
