Whale Trainer Died From Multiple Traumatic Injuries and Drowning
Posted on Feb 25, 2010 @ 03:06PM
The cause of death of Dawn Brancheau, the 40-year-old trainer who was killed by Tillikum the killer whale at Florida’s SeaWorld on Wednesday, has been determined to be most likely from “multiple traumatic injuries and drowning” according to the Orange County Medical Examiner.
The report released by the Sheriff’s Homicide Investigators said that Brancheau “was apparently interacting with the attraction’s largest male whale in knee deep water when the animal grabbed her by the hair, said to be in a long pony tail, and pulled her underwater.” She was pulled into the pool behind Shamu Stadium by Tillikum, the 30-year-old killer whale.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Mother Of Killed Whale Trainer - “My Daughter Died Doing What She Loves Best”
Brancheau had 16 years of experience working with Orcas and the report said “Rescuers were not able to immediately jump in and render assistance to the Brancheau due to the whale’s aggressive nature.”
The original theory behind her death was that Dawn had slipped into the orca’s pool, but after interviewing witnesses it became apparent to the Sheriff’s that the whale pulled Brancheau into the pool. The report said “She was recovered from the whale by SeaWorld staff members after the animal was coaxed into a smaller pool and lifted out of the water by a large scale/platform that lay on the bottom of the smaller tank.”
PHOTOS: Dawn Brancheau At SeaWorld
Dawn’s mother Marion Loverde spoke with RadarOnline.com about her daughter’s love of the whale and her passion about the animals. “My daughter would not have wanted the whale to have been put-down – she was very happy working with her whales and was a wonderful person,” Marion said.
Witness: Whale Emerged From Water With Trainer In It’s Mouth
“My family are all still in a state of shock, and her husband is absolutely devastated. They lived for one another; Dawn’s death is a tragic loss.”
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The Daily Juice
DON't free the whales.......My kids love Sea World....and the whales dont seem to mind being fed nonstop. Most of them have never been in the wild anyway, and doing so would be a death sentence for them.
Posted Sat, 02/27/2010 - 12:27pm
FREE TILLIKUM!!!! FREE TILLIKUM!!!!!!!!!!!! FREE TILLIKUM!!!!!!!!!! I HATE I WHEN THEN KEEPS ANIMALS CAGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted Fri, 02/26/2010 - 9:33am
It seems like Sea World could come up with a tazer like device that they would carry in the event that they do get pulled in...you know, maybe 100,000 volts just to stun it for a second or two, just enough time to get away...
Posted Fri, 02/26/2010 - 6:39am
These beautiful creatures swim 100 nautical miles a day, use sonar but are stuck in a small pool being fed dead fish for tricks, swimming in circles. I'd be neurotic too. I feel bad for the trainer, not her fault but whales are for the ocean, period.
Posted Fri, 02/26/2010 - 2:36am
I have never been in favor of containing any living creature outside of its own natural habitat. If you want to see an animal or mammal look at a picture. I don't need to see it behind lock and key to appreciate the beauty.
Posted Fri, 02/26/2010 - 1:11am
The animal did not know what it was doing!! It didn't wake up that morning w/ the intention to kill someone. Maybe it thought her hair was food & I don't thk she would want it put down either.
Posted Fri, 02/26/2010 - 12:10am
No matter how much you love wild animals, they are not going to love you back. It's just not their nature. Stop thinking that if you love them enough you can make them your pets. Irwin, Roy, Grizzly Man and now Brancheau. Enough!
Posted Fri, 02/26/2010 - 12:04am
Boycott SeaWorld,Busch Gardens,and Discovery Cove until they remove that 3 time KILLER WHALE from SeaWorld in Orlando. THREE PEOPLE have been found DEAD in his pool. ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!!!
Posted Thu, 02/25/2010 - 10:53pm