Shamu Killed Trainer Today in Orlando =(

Phoenix_Rising
Phoenix_Rising Posts: 11,417 Member
edited September 20 in Chit-Chat
http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2010/2/24/587273.html?title=Trainer dies in Shamu tank at Sea World &cid=rss


ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - An employee at Sea World Orlando has died after being attacked by a killer whale.

Orange County Fire Rescue spokesman John Mulhall says paramedics were called Wednesday afternoon to the Shamu Stadium at the theme park resort where they found a worker who could not be revived.

The incident happened during a Dining with Shamu event. Park guest Victoria Biniak told WKMG-TV that the trainer had just finished explaining to the audience the show they were about to see.

Biniak told the station the whale suddenly came up from the water, grabbed the trainer around the waist and "thrashed her all around" to the point the trainer's shoe fell off.

The guests were evacuated and the park was closed.

Replies

  • melbhall
    melbhall Posts: 519
    Oh my, how sad. =(
  • tubbytabbytales
    tubbytabbytales Posts: 5,883
    That's so awful. :(
  • Gogo
    Gogo Posts: 9,942 Member
    BAD SHAMU!! That makes me want to cry.....:frown:
  • chrissyh
    chrissyh Posts: 8,235 Member
    That's so sad and scary!
  • mamaturner
    mamaturner Posts: 2,447 Member
    Oh my gosh.. my thoughts and prayers go out to her loved ones.
  • Phoenix_Rising
    Phoenix_Rising Posts: 11,417 Member
    I just took my 4 year old daughter and my sister to see Shamu a month ago. We saw this animal, probably saw this trainer. I am very saddened.

    It's worse for me to think that the attack took place during "Dining with Shamu", where people sit with their young children for an upclose look at the whales. I hope they are able to cope with what they witnessed. I hope the other trainers are able to cope with this.
  • exercisediva
    exercisediva Posts: 127
    Me and my family have also been to Seaworld and saw Shamu. That is horrible and scary for all those kids.
  • CherokeeBabe
    CherokeeBabe Posts: 1,704 Member
    Right before my grabdfather passed away a couple years ago, myself and my family took him to the "Dining with Shamu" show also for his first trip to Florida. This is so sad. Another example that all trained animals, meant to be wild, are never completely predictable or trained. :(
  • Phoenix_Rising
    Phoenix_Rising Posts: 11,417 Member
    Another example that all trained animals, meant to be wild, are never completely predictable or trained. :(

    I agree.
    Very tragic for the animal, the trainers, and the park guests who witnessed it.
  • AftonP
    AftonP Posts: 15
    That is really sad news. :(
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    That is so sad, but I hope they don't do anything drastic, like put the whale down. That would be even more awful.
  • pianoteacherevan
    pianoteacherevan Posts: 55 Member
    They should let it go free, and live out the rest of it's life in the wild ocean. I don't think it should be around another trainer ever again. I highly doubt they would just put Shamu down, there's really no danger to anyone if it's back in the ocean again.
  • jclguru
    jclguru Posts: 123
    Just to correct...the whale wasn't Shamu. The whale's name was: Tilikum.

    Doug
  • deedeehawaii
    deedeehawaii Posts: 279 Member
    This is so sad. Another example that all trained animals, meant to be wild, are never completely predictable or trained. :(
    Yep. Siegfried & Roy, and tiger "Montecore". 'Nuf said.
  • memaw66
    memaw66 Posts: 2,558 Member
    People need to remember that these are wild animals and all the training in the world can't take that out of them. This is not the first time that same whale has been involved in someone's death. They should have set him free in the ocean after the first time.
    I feel really bad for the trainer, the only good thing is that she died doing something that she loved. I'll pray for her family and the Sea World family/staff. I know it has to be hard for all of them.

    Memaw
  • Phoenix_Rising
    Phoenix_Rising Posts: 11,417 Member
    They should let it go free, and live out the rest of it's life in the wild ocean. I don't think it should be around another trainer ever again. I highly doubt they would just put Shamu down, there's really no danger to anyone if it's back in the ocean again.

    Can this animal survive if put back in the wild? That is my only concern. I know other animals many times cannot function back in the wild after being in captivity for so long.

    Tilikum was captured off Iceland, years and years ago, before the practice was banned by the US. (According to the Today Show)
  • Phoenix_Rising
    Phoenix_Rising Posts: 11,417 Member
    That is so sad, but I hope they don't do anything drastic, like put the whale down. That would be even more awful.

    I agree. I have not seen that mentioned anywhere as an option. I can't see why that would even be an option, thankfully. They could put him back in the ocean, at the very least.
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