New Details About Whale Attack Responsible for SeaWorld Trainer's Death
Posted on Mar 01, 2010 @ 05:05PM
On Monday, Florida's Orange County Sheriff's Department released the witness statements relating to the death of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau. RadarOnline.com has copies of the statements which add chilling detail about the lead up to and aftermath of whale Tilikum's February 24 attack.
Jan Topeleski, a trainer spotter who Brancheau supervised, was in the underwater viewing area preparing for the guiding animal show and photo tour during which the trainers get the whales to come to the glass to pose for a picture for the theme park's guests.
VIDEO: Witness Describes Whale Attack; Whale Killed 2 In Past
"[I was] watching Dawn Brancheau interact at the end of the pool. She was lying down...face to face performing a 'relationship' session with our whale," he wrote in his statement. "I then noticed immediately that he bit down on a piece of her hair. Within the span of 2 seconds she was pulled into the pool, unable to get her hair released from his mouth. I immediately sounded the alarm..."
Chahine Kish also attested to how quickly events turned. "I was cleaning up my section and watching Dawn the trainer play w/Tilly [the whale]. She was running along side of him. I looked down at my table, then up again and she was gone."
Kish quickly realized what had happened. "I saw Tilly surface with a trainer in his mouth. He was becoming frantic himself."
Killed SeaWorld Trainer Believed in Trust Relationship with Whales
Shortly after the alarms sounded, the guests were quickly evacuated from the site. One senior animal trainer at the Sea Lions and Otter Stadium related that once they restrained the whale his "mouth had to be pryed [sic] open" to retrieve Brancheau.
Anthony Sharp, a paramedic for SeaWorld Orlando, said medical responders to the scene pronounced Brancheau dead. Echoed medic Thomas Tobin: "monitor rhythm and wounds inconsistent with life."
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Whale Advocate Blames Sea World For Trainer's Death
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The Daily Juice
It really is wrong for corporations to use these animals in this manner.
The corporations that run these operations value cash over human and animal life.
Posted Tue, 03/02/2010 - 5:33am
How does one "restrain" a whale?
Posted Tue, 03/02/2010 - 5:27am
How many people does this whale have to kill before they release it back into the wild?
Posted Tue, 03/02/2010 - 3:37am
The sad thing is, JRPG, it's too late now. He would never survive in the wild...not anymore. He has been in captivity way too long. It is a sad, sad story...for all parties, including the whale.
Posted Tue, 03/02/2010 - 12:23pm
"...performing a 'relationship' session with our whale" ?!? -> Killer Whales 1, Trainers 0
Posted Tue, 03/02/2010 - 3:29am
From what I have read and heard, she was playing with him just prior to that with some new toys and they think that when he saw her ponytail in the water, he thought it was a new toy and was going to play with it.
Posted Tue, 03/02/2010 - 2:46am
Orca whales belong in the sea, NOT having a trainer stand on their nose or ride on their back. i guse Tilly GOT ENOUGH of this abuse. maybe Tilly did not get enough lunch that day so he was mad...
Posted Tue, 03/02/2010 - 12:55am
maybe they should stop using"KILLER WHALES" .
Posted Mon, 03/01/2010 - 11:23pm
In no way should a wild animal be punished well for being a WILD ANIMAL. Seaworld should care for him for the rest of his life. Releasing him into the wild now would be the most cruel thing to do.
Posted Mon, 03/01/2010 - 10:02pm
Agree 100%
Posted Tue, 03/02/2010 - 12:24pm