SeaWorld Orlando Parks Thread

[Jp]

A SeaWorld Orlando animal trainer was killed this afternoon during an accident at SeaWorld's Shamu Stadium, park and law enforcement officials said.

Click here for the news!! (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-seaworld-orlando-shamu-injury-20100224,0,942688.story?page=1&utm_medium=feed&track=rss&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20orlandosentinelbreakingnews %20%28Orlando%20Sentinel%20Breaking%20News%29&utm_content=Google%20Reader&utm_source=feedburner)

[Shayne]

Such a sad story, I was going to add the news story tonight, but I guess I was beaten to it. This really puts back into perspective that wild animals are still wild animals.

[Sfguy]

That's the second trainer that whale has killed...
I feel really sorry for her family.


And cue the animal extremists.

[bobbinbop20]

Wow, I feel sorry for that women!

Seaworld needs to do something about that animal, with its history of violence...

[palmer]

Damn. . Such a sad story. My blessings go out to her and her family.

[Jp]

If you want to see the tribute to her. Watch this video!!

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[Cody Comet]

I visited Sea World back in the summer of 07 or 08 and sadly enough, I think she was working the Killer Whale show that I saw that day. She will definately be missed!

[Jp]

Fire rescue officials in Orange County this morning released the 911 dispatch calls from the SeaWorld Orlando accident that claimed the life of killer whale trainer Dawn Brancheau.

In the first call, a SeaWorld employee is heard telling the dispatch operator "We have a trainer in the water with one of our whales. The whale they're not supposed to be in the water with."

Moments later, the same employee calls 911 and tells the operator "they just pulled the AED [automatic external defibrillator]" referring to the portable electronic device used to restart a person's heart.

The SeaWorld employee makes a third call, saying "they're gonna go ahead and bring them [rescue workers] in the park, can you let them know? They're [rescue workers] gonna bring the vehicle into the park. My guys are waiting for them at gate 3."

Brancheau, 40, was killed last week when she was dragged into a water tank a killer whale named Tilikum.

Brancheau was face-to-face with Tilikum, a 6-ton orca, performing what called a "relationship" session when Tilikum bit down on her ponytail.

"Within the span of two seconds, she was pulled into the pool, unable to get her hair released from his mouth," said Jan Joseph Topoleski, 32, who was at the scene as a SeaWorld trainer-spotter.

Mark Barner, 23, of Orlando, watched the rescue attempt from the Dine with Shamu show, where he was clearing tables. He said it took "what seemed like" 10 minutes to get the nets in place.

Chahine Kish, 33, of Orlando, also watched from the Dine with Shamu area. "I saw Tilly surface with a trainer in his mouth. He was becoming frantic himself."

The whale would not let go, witnesses said, and other animals in the water nearby did not heed trainers' calls to move.

"I could see a woman's ponytail in the whale's mouth," SeaWorld rescuer Valerie Greene said. "We were then instructed to let the whale be and net the other whales in the adjoining pools."

Greene added that "He [Tilikum] eventually went over and we got the net over him and we were able to get the body out of his mouth. We had to get the net out once more to get him to let go of her arm."

Check back for updates.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-sea-world-911-calls-released-20100304,0,2318872.story

[nitrofan]

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_orlando/files/2010/03/aq12.jpg

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_orlando/files/2010/03/aq2.jpg

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_orlando/files/2010/03/aq3.jpg

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_orlando/2010/03/pictures-aquaticas-omaka-rocka-slide-coming-soon.html

These slides are looking great! I'd like to try a Tamtrum myself.

Reports are saying it will be opening any day now.

[palmer]

That looks really fun. Hopefully it opens soon, even though there is no chance in hell I'm gonna be going to Aquatica. LOL