Sea World in Orlando (file image)
Regular Photo Size•VIDEO: 2004 killer whale attack
Whale kills trainer at Sea World
Updated: Wednesday, 24 Feb 2010, 5:04 PM EST
Published : Wednesday, 24 Feb 2010, 3:21 PM EST
MyFoxTampaBay.com staff report
ORLANDO - A trainer was killed at Sea World this afternoon after being attacked by a killer whale, witnesses and investigators said.
The incident happened around 2 p.m.
"She apparently slipped and fell," a representative with the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.
The attack happened in Shamu stadium.
A park guest and her husband said that the trainer had just finished explaining to the audience the show they were about to see.
Victoria and Gary Biniak said the whale suddenly came up from the water, grabbed the trainer around the waist and "thrashed her all around" to the point the trainer's shoe fell off.
The guests were evacuated and the park was closed.
Sea World president Dan Brown said the trainer was 40 years old and was "one of the most experienced trainers around."
"It is an extraordinarily difficult time for the park and team members," Brown said. "We have never in the history of our parks experienced an incident like this."
The Orange County Sheriff's Office said a death investigation was underway.
Stay with FOX 13 for updates.
Well they don't call em' killer whales for nothin.
Beat me to it
Any of ya'll seen the statements from PETA? It's absolutely amazing. Surprised they didn't come right out and say the trainer deserved it and had it comin. Heartless SOBs!
Prolly all over youtube. But it was back in one of the holding tanks, so there might not be any.
Nope. None. Only stock footage from ABC and CBS.
