Categories: LocalOff the Wall

‘Shamu’ Whale Kills Trainer Dawn Brancheau Video Report

 
Dawn Brancheau, a whale trainer at SeaWorld, was pulled into the tank yesterday after a show and tragically killed. Dawn’s sister Diane Gross said that her family considers the incident to be an accident, rather than an oversight on SeaWorld’s part.

“She loved all of them,” said Diane. “They all had personalities, good days and bad days.” Diane said that Dawn was inspired to become a trainer after taking a family trip as a 9-year-old.

Reports say that the whale has been considered dangerous by staff, and only certain trainers were able to work with him. This leads to the question – why was he there? The 12,000 pound whale pulled Dawn under the water after a regular performance, as she was rewarding him. Onlookers that witnessed the horrible event said that the whale was acting violently with the trainer.

This isn’t the first death that has been connected with the killer whale. Tilikum and two other whales drowned another trainer, Keltie Byrne, in 1991 at a park in Canada. In 1999 at SeaWorld, a man snuck into the whale tank to swim with them. He was also killed.

Video of Witness, Victoria Biniak, saying the whale “Shook Her Violently” 

Here is the story on CBS News:

Here is a statement from the President of SeaWorld Orlando, Dan Brown:

Kevin Brackett

Kevin Brackett is a professional film and theatre critic. He is also a member of the St. Louis Film Critics Association (SLFCA). Since founding Review St. Louis in 2008, he remains editor and operator of the online publication. Kevin is also a co-host of the Reel Spoilers podcast, and former National Vice President of the Technology Student Association (TSA), comprised of over 200,000 members worldwide. E-mail: kevin [at] reviewstl.com.

View Comments

  • Okay, it is sad that this happened. It's unfortunate that she died, but she knew the risks of working there and the possible consequences. But killer whales are wild animals, regardless of how "tame" you think they are. It is in their blood. Any wild animal is capable of this, not just the killer whales, but chimpanzees and tigers as we have seen before. I'm not saying she deserved it, because no body deserves to die in such a tragic manner, but there are risks working with wild animals and such tragedies are not preventable nor are they predictable. It could happen anywhere, anytime and anyplace. It's just like our soldiers fighting in the war. They know the risks at stake and they are still willing to do what they do for EVERYONE back home here in America. And many do die for us but where are the thanks and tears shed for them? So now I thank you for all you do! GOD BLESS!!!!! Semper Fidelis

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