Categories: LocalOff the Wall

Killer Orca Whale Attacks Trainer Dawn Brancheau – Video Coverage and Police Report

It seems like the tragedy that took place at SeaWorld last week just won’t go away (read the entire story here).  As most people have heard, 40-year-old SeaWorld whale trainer Dawn Brancheau was attacked and killed by a killer whale named Tilikum.  The sheriff’s department has been investigating the incident, and more information has been released from eye witnesses of the attack.

Eyewitnesses have told the sheriff’s department details from the horrific incident.  A fellow trainer said, “it took approximately 25 to 30 minutes to get Dawn’s body away… I could see that he had her in his mouth either by her hair or arm and she did not look conscious any time I could see her.” Another SeaWorld employee said, “She was laying down on our concrete walk area face-to-face performing a relationship session with the whale.  He bit down on a piece of her hair. Within a span of two seconds, she was pulled into the pool unable to get her hair released from his mouth.”

Funeral services were held on Monday, where Dawn Brancheau’s friends and friends were in attendance to lay the trainer to rest.

Here is video coverage of the whale attack on CBS:

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

  • she died doin something she loved and im going to what she did and to do that is in humain.

  • I personally think that if this whale has KILLED, meaning GONE, out of the EARTHS surface, 3 people. I think that this whale should be put down. These are my personal feelings and for the safey of the other members, this is the best thing to do.. or put it back into thE REAL Ocean. There are my personal feelings.

    Thanks,

    Madisen F. 6Th Grade.

  • I think they shouldnt kill it because maybe it just want to be free so dont blame it on the whale. They should release it into the ocean where it needs to be.

  • no doubt that i feel immense sorry for the trainer and her family and wish them the best thru their time of grief i on the other hand believe that the whale is a wild animal and should be released back into his natural habitat. he did not asked to be in captivity nor did any other wild animal and probably loved his trainer and did not realize his massive size would hurt her and nor did he realize his playful behavior would kill his loved one. there is no doubt in my mind that this whale does not know his strength and should live out the rest of his free life in the ocean where he is his own kind and cannot harm another human being . as for Dawns family i believe she had a very happy life doing what she loved and would wish the best for the creature she loved so dearly ..i might very well be mistaken and be taken by my own beliefs but nonetheless i will pray for Dawn and her family and her whale.

  • Why would they release it back into the wild? That's like letting a serial killer out of prison after he kills a guard. What I fail to see is why they were still letting the whale perform in shows when it had already killed two people? Did they think it reformed?

  • I personally don't believe that the whale has to be put down, after all people took him out of his natural environment to lock him in a tank that as they have said he has been in for at least 20 years. I say either one of two things need to be done. Return him to the wild, but not the ocean, I would say more like a cove some where to insure he will be able to re adjust. Or use him at the park to just be seen, and not have him in shows.

    One thing I could say if this was me and I died doing something I loved, that's the best way to go...

  • It's not that poor whale's fault. whales should not be kept in captivity for any reason. whales are ocean mammals and they should remain in their habitats instead of being used for show. i'm on the whale's side, dont use the animal for shows just to amuse people. how do you think they whale feels about being held in captivity and basically enslaved wan taught to do tricks for shows? i wouldnt like it. that whale in my opinion is innocent!

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