World

Tilikum Murdered Trainer at Shamu Stadium

by YankeeJim | February 24, 2010 at 12:54 pm

3925 views | 8 Recommendations | 17 comments

"Update: Female #Seaworld trainer was killed by whale during public show, witnesses say; much of Florida theme park closed"

The trainer was a woman who worked with the whale for a long time and was apparenttly shaken to death and drowned by the ungrateful beast.

"ORLANDO - A SeaWorld employee died this afternoon during an incident at SeaWorld's Shamu Stadium, following an incident this afternoon at the Killer Whale attack, an Orange County Sheriff's Office official confirmed.

Neither SeaWorld, rescue personnel or the Sheriff's Office are confirming the identity of the employee, although a local TV station is reporting that a female employee 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 and grabbed the woman.

"He was thrashing her around pretty good. It was violent,'" Biniak told Local 6.

The whale "took off really fast in the tank, and then he came back, shot up in the air, grabbed the trainer by the waist and started thrashing around, and one of her shoes flew off."

She said sirens went off and everyone was forced to leave the stadium.

Guests were evacuated from the area. The park is not shut down.

Rescue personnel were called to the theme park at 2 p.m.

Local 6 is reporting that the whale involved in the incident is named Tillikum, and that whale has been involved in at least one other incident at the park.

SeaWorld officials will be briefing the media shortly.

Copyright © 2010, Orlando Sentinel"

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158

at 13:19 on February 24th, 2010

Good quick report.I just saw it on CNN TV a few minutes ago.

Amy Judd

at 13:37 on February 24th, 2010

It wasn't Shamu who killed the trainer, the incident took place at Shamu Stadium. The name of the whale is Tilikum.

YankeeJim

at 14:00 on February 24th, 2010

If I were a beat reporter, my editor would have revoked my laptop.

stejeb

at 13:49 on February 24th, 2010

Nasty way to end, and another salient lesson for mankind, doubt if much was learned though.

These aren't performing cuties, they're ruthless killers.

YankeeJim

at 14:09 on February 24th, 2010

Actually, they are efficient killers especially when hungry, and maybe when held in a land locked tank when they should be in the ocean free.

stejeb

at 14:37 on February 24th, 2010

Exactly Jim, let them go, after training them and giving them weapons to protect themselves and their families from Japanese whalers of course.

YankeeJim

at 14:41 on February 24th, 2010

And it is to the dinner table that the perpetrator must go-- sushi anyone?

158

at 14:50 on February 24th, 2010

Sushi from whales?

YankeeJim

at 15:00 on February 24th, 2010

Better than from Wales.

YankeeJim

at 16:43 on February 24th, 2010

My appologies to Shamu and the Shamu family for having alleged that the attrocity was Shamu.

Michal Leah Kanovsky (not verified)

at 17:35 on February 24th, 2010

he should be grateful for being kept in captivity?

Orca Spirit (not verified)

at 21:14 on February 24th, 2010

Ungrateful beast? Are you nuts? Why should an intelligent mammal be grateful for decades of mental torture and captivity in a tiny pond when he is used to living with and communicating with his extended family, facing new situations every day in a very active life, and swimming up and down the coast of Vancouver Island, not doing stupid tricks in a bathtub? I'm sorry for the trainer's family but get a grip. Orcas should not be in captivity. Free them all, back to their family groups.

YankeeJim

at 04:04 on February 25th, 2010

Tongue was in my cheek

Cindy Tolar (not verified)

at 21:41 on February 24th, 2010

The whale is now being shown crammed in an area even smaller than the performing area like a kid in "time out". SeaWorld calls it a "holding tank". This is a mammal snatched from his natural habitat and forced to perform for years in an area that would make you feel like being strapped into a bath tub for years. If SeaWorld doesn't do the right thing at this point after multiple incidents with this same whale and release him back into the open ocean where he belongs so he can eat fish, seals, etc, instead of humans the public outcry will be swift and financially devastating. Not only will PETA be all over it if they put him to death for an act of instinct, annual ticket holders should demand their money back, there will be multiple law suits for the shock and awe trauma kids and adults experienced today. Free Willy and move on. If the whales are born in captivity,at least they don't know there's a whole world of ocean out there, but this pathetic performer more than likely thought he was just "playing" with the trainer when he started slinging her around. Furthermore, how would a whale know that his trainer couldn't hold her breath as long as he does. If you want to educate the public about your mammals, there are other ways to do it and still make your almighty dollars. Free Willy or drown in your own greed!

YankeeJim

at 04:05 on February 25th, 2010

I think the best thing to do is to return it to the ocean and see if it can survive cathing its own fish and perforrming for Carnival Sealines.

cal 714 (not verified)

at 07:30 on February 26th, 2010

are u all dumb? this whale cant be released into the ocean it would just keep coming back as it knows no better, i feel sorry for the familly but the whale did not no it was halming the trainer, ive seen this whale at work and it is amazin but as for stupid comments like "free willy" get a grip yourself!