From CNN: A killer whale killed a trainer Wednesday afternoon at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, a spokesman for the Orange County Fire Department said. Witnesses said the orca had jumped and grabbed Dawn Brancheau by the waist from a poolside platform before dragging her underwater. Brancheau was killed following a Dine with Shamu show. "She was pulled in and she drowned," he said. Shamu Kills Trainer. Third death On February 24, 2010, Tilikum killed Dawn Brancheau, a 40-year-old trainer. The incident was documented in the 2013 film Blackfish . SeaWorld Dawn Brancheau VIDEO with Tilikum. "It is with great sadness that I report that one of our most experienced animal trainers drowned in an incident with one of our killer whales this afternoon," said Brown. Sign up for more inspiring photos, stories, and special offers from National Geographic. Dawn Therese Brancheau was an American senior animal trainer at SeaWorld. Why did it fail? With that, however, another group of videos […] A killer whale killed a trainer Wednesday afternoon at SeaWorld's Shamu Stadium in Orlando, Florida, a public information officer for the Orange County Sheriff's Office said. But freshwater issues are becoming a higher priority for conservationists. Can we save them? The drowning of a Florida SeaWorld animal trainer by "Shamu"—the stage name assigned to multiple SeaWorld captive killer whales—is not typical behavior for the whales, scientists say. ‘I don’t even know if my home still exists.’, FDA authorizes Johnson & Johnson vaccine for emergency use, The priceless primate fossils found in a garbage dump, The U.S. may soon have a third vaccine. February 24, 2010, 12:43 PM • 4 min read Feb. 24, 2010— -- A female trainer was killed today at SeaWorld's Shamu Stadium in Orlando, Fla., by a 12,000-pound killer whale that had twice before been involved in the deaths of humans, according to police and local media. In 1991, trainer Keltie Lee Byrne fell into a tank holding Tillikum and two other whales at Sealand of the Pacific in Victoria, Canada. Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright © 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. After you get a COVID-19 vaccine, what can you do safely? Killer whales swim in tanks at the SeaWorld park in Orlando, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010. "I don't think there's ever been a report of a killer whale attacking a human," said Wayne Perryman, a marine biologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), who has studied killer whales in the wild. Killer whales are known to shake large prey to break them apart, but Perryman doesn't think that's what happened to the SeaWorld trainer. This single number could reshape our climate future, The forgotten first emancipation proclamation, Buried for 4,000 years, this ancient culture could expand the 'Cradle of Civilization', The untold story of the world’s fiercest tank battle, Oldest dog remains in Americas discovered in Alaska, Text messages capture heartbreaking goodbyes of COVID-19 victims, How do we know what ancient Greek warriors wore for battle? One witness, park visitor Victoria Biniak, told WKMG-TV that she watched the whale grab Brancheau. NASA’s Perseverance rover has just landed on Mars, Watch as NASA attempts a daring Mars rover landing, Playing it cool: these artists make music with ice, These 9 memorials trace the global impact of slavery, America’s newest national park is a haven for hiking, climbing, and rafting, From ‘Herbie the Love Bug’ to punch buggy, the Beetle remains iconic in Mexico, ‘It really is like flying.’ Explore wild skating on nature’s ice, The legendary community that fought for its freedom in Jamaica, Why this salty Massachusetts coastal town hooks artists, Families are leading a new wave for Black travelers, Winter is prime time for watching bald eagles—here’s how, As Lunar New Year approaches, many Asians worry about future journeys, Want dreamy winter photos? A killer whale attacked and killed a trainer at the SeaWorld amusement park in Florida today as horrified tourists looked on. In a news conference shortly after the attack, police said Brancheau had fallen into the tank. Angelo Nieves of the Orange County Sheriff's Office in a statement. "We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the trainer and will do everything possible to assist them in this difficult time.".