Tilikum was also involved in a 1999 death, when the body of a man who had sneaked by SeaWorld Orlando security was found draped over him. The man either jumped, fell or was pulled into the frigid water and died of hypothermia, though he was also bruised and scratched by Tilikum.
A witness to the latest incident, Eldon Skaggs, 72, said Ms. Brancheau was on a platform with the whale and was massaging it. Mr. Skaggs said the interaction appeared leisurely and informal.
Then, he said, the whale “pulled her under and started swimming around with her.”…
Victoria Biniak, a park guest, told WKMG-TV that 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.” A SeaWorld official confirmed Wednesday night that the whale pulled the trainer into the water.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member