AUDIO: 911 Call In Whale Trainer's Death Released
Posted on Mar 04, 2010 @ 06:57AM - 4 comments
RadarOnline.com has been following the tragic death of Florida SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau, and on Thursday we received the 911 call that was made moments after Tilikum, a 12,000-pound killer whale, dragged Brancheau and held her underwater, where she drowned.
The first call was made by an unidentified woman who wasn't aware of the magnitude of what had happened, but sensed trouble.
"They are at Shamu Stadium. We actually have a trainer in the water with one of our whales," the 911 caller told the operator. "The whale that they're not supposed to be in the water with -- so we don't know what's going on. We were just told to call and have people here on standby when they get the person out."
The operator said: "You don't know if the person was injured or they're having a medical problem?"
"No idea," the caller responded. "I don't even think they're out of the water yet, they're still in there with the whale."
Asked the operator: "OK. But someone is on scene and they are getting them out of the water now?"
"There are people working on it, yes," the caller responded. "There's about two to three dozen people over there right now."
The caller contacted 911 two additional times after the initial contact, once to report that park officials had begun using a device called the AED (automated external defibrillator) and a second to confirm that emergency vehicles should enter the theme park via Gate 3.
Brancheau, a 40-year-old Indiana native, was married with no kids. More than 1,200 people showed up to her funeral in Illinois earlier this week.
VIDEO: Expert - Whale Trainer Made Fatal Mistake
Posted on Feb 26, 2010 @ 01:50AM - 9 comments
The Florida SeaWorld trainer who was drowned by an orca whale Wednesday made a mistake that triggered the animal's deadly reaction, her former trainer told Good Morning America Friday.
In a new twist to a story RadarOnline.com has been following closely, Thad Lacinak said the late Dawn Brancheau broke protocol with Tilikum, the 12,000-pound whale who dragged and held her underwater, drowning her.
The break in protocol was Brancheau lying down in a 4-inch "slide out" device intended for the trainers to stand on, Lacinak said.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW & VIDEO: Mother Of Killed Whale Trainer -"My Daughter Died Doing What She Loved"
Posted on Feb 25, 2010 @ 10:54AM - 14 comments
Marion Loverde, the mother of SeaWorld whale trainer Dawn Brancheau, exclusively told RadarOnline.com on Thursday that her daughter would not want Tilikum the killer whale to be “put down”.
The 40-year old trainer -- whose dream was to work at SeaWorld’s Shamu Stadium - died when 12,000 lbs Tilikium pulled her into the orca’s tank on Wednesday afternoon, drowning her as horrified visitors looked on.
Meanwhile, RadarOnline.com has obtained video of Brancheau performing with Tilikium back in 2008 at SeaWorld.
VIDEO: Witness Describes Whale Attack; Whale Killed 2 In Past
Posted on Feb 25, 2010 @ 05:30AM - 6 comments
A woman who saw the whale attack in an underground viewing area at the Orlando, Florida SeaWorld Wednesday, told The Today Show Thursday about the tragic string of events that led to the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau.
PHOTOS: Dawn Brancheau At Florida SeaWorld
RadarOnline.com has the latest on Brancheau, who drowned Wednesday after Tilikum, a 12,000-pound male orca whale, grabbed her in his jowls and pulled her under the water, drowning her.
Witness: Whale Emerged From Water With Trainer In Its Mouth
Posted on Feb 25, 2010 @ 04:15AM - 17 comments
Eyewitnesses to the whale attack at Orlando, Florida SeaWorld recounted the horror Wednesday when Tilikum, a 12,000-pound male orca whale, grabbed trainer Dawn Brancheau and pulled her into the water, where she drowned.
PHOTOS: Dawn Brancheau At Florida SeaWorld
Michigan native Eldon Skaggs was eating his lunch in the area during the Dine With Shamu program, RadarOnline.com has learned, when tragedy reared its’ ugly head.
Celeb Pet Of The Week
Posted on Aug 11, 2009 @ 02:34PM - Add a comment
Brooke Shields, Meet Shamu.
Brooke Shields took a break from her busy schedule to get up close and personal with SeaWorld’s biggest star, Shamu at SeaWorld Orlando.
Shields was on vacation with her husband and two young daughters. The family took a VIP tour of SeaWorld which included encounters with many different animals, including meeting penguins and dolphins. Photo credit: Matt Marriott.Shields.
