Posted on 02/24/2010 12:31:11 PM PST by b4its2late
A member of SeaWorld Orlando's family of killer whales and his trainer swim to the surface during the show 'Believe.' (SEAWORLD)
One person is dead at SeaWorld's Shamu Stadium, following an incident this afternoon, an Orange County Sheriff's Office official confirmed.
Orange County Fire Rescue responded to SeaWorld's Shamu Stadium this afternoon on report of a person who was not breathing.
Details about the incident are not yet available, but a Sheriff's Office official confirmed it is a death investigation.
A local TV station is reporting that a female trainer was killed after she was grabbed by one of the theme park's whales at the start of a public show.
Park guest Victoria Biniak told Local 6 that the trainer was a veteran of SeaWorld and had just finished explaining to the audience the show they were about to see.
At that point, Biniak said, the whale came up from the water, grabbed the trainer around the waste and "thrashed her all around" to the point the trainer's shoe fell off.
Guests were evacuated and were later told the park was shut down, Biniak told Local 6.
Rescue personnel were called to the theme park at 2 p.m. Calls to SeaWorld and Orange County Fire Rescue were not immediately returned.
The Sheriff's Office is en route.
It happened right in front of friends of mine.
Oh my, prayers. Did they know immediately something wasnt right?
I guess the whales are correctly named then...
OMG!
Horrible!
How terrible, for all who were there!! Not to mention the trainers family. Prayers for all concerned.
Free Willy bump
Moby Dick’s revenge.
What happens when one forgets that wild animals are wild animals; apparently, an affliction increasingly common in our modern world.
A killer whale killed someone?
Go figure.
After seeing a story on a coordinated attack by a pack of Killer Whales on a Mother Grey Whale and her baby. (she managed to get her baby to safety) I don’t like Killer Whales. BAD whales.
The whale was probably not trying to kill her, but they are wild animals. Carnivores to boot.
Did they know immediately....or did they think it was part of the show?
I suppose there is a reason they are known as “Killer” whales.
I heard PETA is now demanding they be called “Sea Pitbulls”.
So THAT’S why they call them Killer Whales???????
Noticed that too. Must have been public schooling, lol. Horrible story, not sure Im going to share with my kids. Too horrible
harpoons would work!
Has anyone ever seen killer whales kill baby seals? I just do not know why anyone would be near such a powerful animal.
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