SeaWorld paramedic Thomas Tobin was quick to arrive at the scene, and was there for "three to four minutes" without seeing Dawn reach the surface. Trainer Dawn Brancheau with the 5-ton marine mammal Tilikum. SeaWorld trainer plays with Orca shortly before her 2010 death, Whale trainer Dawn Brancheau at SeaWorld Adventure Park, shown performing on December 30, 2005, Believe, The Spectacular Shamu Show, resumed at SeaWorld's Shamu Stadium in 2010, three days after a killer whale pulled veteran trainer Dawn Brancheau to her death, Dawn Brancheau was killed in an accident with an orca at the SeaWorld Shamu Stadium in Orlando, Florida, Dawn Brancheau with an orca named Nalani in March 2009, In this aerial view at SeaWorld on, February 24, 2010, the body of whale trainer Dawn Brancheau lies under a black tarp. On February 24, 2010, for reasons only speculated, Tilikum's behaviour suddenly changed and Dawn was pulled in the water from pool's edge and died. [8] The whale, named Tilikum, apparently grabbed Brancheau by her long . The Brancheau Foundation website mentions Brancheau's dream of working with killer whales at SeaWorld and features numerous pictures with Brancheau smiling and swimming with the whales,. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Her beloved sister worked with the whales at SeaWorld for fourteen years before her death. As for Dawn Brancheau, her family would prefer to focus on how she lived, rather than how she died. Below the surface, terrified tourists and staffers were witnessing the final moments of Dawn Brancheau. 1 According to the testimony given by witnesses, Tilikum grabbed her by her ponytail, pulled her into the pull, and began swinging her underwater in his mouth. El Cajon plane crash: Harrowing doorbell footage shows huge explosion after Learjet 35A crashed killing all on board, Manhunt for killer who shot dead Dillan Burton, 7, while she was riding in the car with her mom and sibling, New Year's Eve fireworks STILL cancelled with a live broadcast instead, says Sadiq Khan despite PM's assurances, Horror as goat gives birth to humanoid kid with baby-like face - but some locals see it as sign from God, Maths teacher, 29, jailed after bringing two pupils, 16, to hotel room for sex as she preyed on boys she taught in class, Miya Marcano died from 'homicide by undetermined means' after teen was found bound with tape around feet and wrists'. ", 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Dawn Brancheau died on February 24, 2010, doing what she loved, She was an experienced marine life trainer and known to be safety-focused, Dawn was a highly-respected and well-liked senior trainer at SeaWorld who was pulled in from the side of the pool by Tilikum, Her family wanted to make the world a better place in Dawn's name (pictured with Alexis Martinez), Dawn's family have changed the lives of tens of thousands children and animals in her name, The SeaWorld trainer's legacy lives on through the work of her family, SeaWorld trainer's last moments as whale did 'deep dive' with body in mouth, My sister was SeaWorld trainer killed by orca Tilikum, its a day that will haunt me forever. . She is also the author of The Uprising Series and is the CEO of G-Force Marketing & Publicity, which has been featured in The Hollywood Reporter and has obtained film, television, radio, and print placements for blue-chip clients all over the world. Jan 13, 2017. Tilikum has been linked to two other deaths. Something went wrong, please try again later. According to PeoplePill, Brancheau earned degrees in both psychology and animal behavior from the University of South Carolina and began her career working with dolphins at a Six Flags in New Jersey but landed her dream job at SeaWorld in 1994. Hardly. Suddenly, I saw the whale grabbing the trainer by the shoulder and pulling her down in the water near the window, said guest Susanne De Wit. Trainer's horrific death as SeaWorld killer whale 'tore his organs and bit his body', Three SeaWorld orcas 'driven mad by captivity' ganged up to kill student, 20, in horrifying attack, Queen's year of pain as loyal dog dies after loss of Philip and family civil war rages, 5 things we learned from Sir Alex Ferguson's interview with Gary Neville, 'They have a LOT in common' Helen Skelton grows close to Strictly pro Vito Coppola after bonding on tour bus - almost one year after rugby star husband left mum-of-three, Interactive map shows exactly where snow could fall in UK as mercury nosedives to -7C, Doctor tells Harry he believes Prince has Attention Deficit Disorder in live Q&A, Kate Garraway shares Derek's final words as he believed he was about to die, Spencer Matthews 'furious' after Disney delays Everest doc as it shows dead bodies, 'I DIDN'T BREAK THE LAW' Matt Hancock tells lawyers he wants immunity on care home deaths during Covid pandemic, Matt Hancock plotted to use new Covid variant to 'frighten the pants off everyone' in leaked WhatsApp, Loose Women star Linda Robson's 'marriage crisis' after hitting 'rough patch', Cyclist pavement killer risks losing home as neighbours break silence, Mrs Brown's Boys to return with four-part miniseries as filming begins soon, Kelsey Parker taking kids to see pop star husband Tom honoured on Dancing on Ice, King Charles 'offers Harry and Meghan palace suite' after kicking them out of Frogmore, Subscribe to Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror newspapers. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Then, read all about the tragic death of Steve Irwin, the beloved Crocodile Hunter., Inside SeaWorld Trainer Dawn Brancheaus Death In The Jaws Of A Killer Whale. There are reports that he would spend hours on end just lying on the surface of the water. Dawn wasn't the first person the huge creature killed, and he was responsible for two deaths decades before. For much of that time, Brancheau was caught in the grip of Tilikum's powerful mouth. He was one of the largest orcas at SeaWorld and he had been in captivity for more than 30 years. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Dawn Brancheau worked at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, for many years. Chillingly, four years before her tragic death,. However, the horror wasn't just caught on camera. John Hargrove, who was a senior trainer at Seaworld at the time of Dawn's death, said: "Well never know why Tilikum made that choice to grab Dawn and pull her into the pool. #inline-recirc-item--id-d47d96b4-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Thomas said it was when she was removed from the water and he observed that she had been scalped that he realised that she had died. The manner of death is accident.". The autopsy determined that Dawn Brancheau died of blunt force trauma to the head, neck and torso, and drowning when the giant orca yanked her into SeaWorld's pool Feb. 24. Now in her name, we hope to continue her legacy of improving the world. Dawn's death led to major changes at the parks - and now . Tilikum died at the Florida attraction in January 2017. When her death was announced, former and current trainers were astonished that she had been the one killed. Dawn Brancheau video leaked death, The SeaWorld Trainer Killed By A Whale || DNA || DNA 1.26K subscribers Subscribe Share 24K views 1 year ago #bbcnews #video #WorldNewsToday Dawn Brancheau,. Dawn Brancheau had drowned. For more information, please see our Animal trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed Wednesday at SeaWorld Orlando. Witnesses said she may have died much earlier in the struggle. She said: "We were constantly seeing pictures of her, having people give their opinions about what happened and why it happened and should trainers be in the water and should whales be in captivity.". The incident is the subject of Blackfish, a documentary film available to watch on Netflix. Tilikum and Dawn's death were also the inspiration behind the documentary film, Blackfish. In her spare time she volunteered at an animal shelter, adored her two Labradors and had a collection of stray ducks, rabbits, chickens and birds at the home she shared with her husband, Scott. I called for a [fire department] response to the scene, he said. Stacy Nichols was working on the Dine with Shamu show when she observed Tilikum perform a "deep dive" to the bottom of the tank with a trainer in his mouth. Sirens rang out for a Signal 500, which warns that someone was in the water and desperately needed help. Investigators have said she died from multiple traumatic injuries and drowning. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. I do believe that he loved her, and I know that she loved him.". Stacy Nichols, 40, realized she had to get the photo guests away from the underwater glass so they wouldnt see more of the tragedy unfolding. Dawn Brancheau, a trainer at SeaWorld Adventure Park who died in a savage attack by one of the park's killer whales in Februaary, is shown while performing in 2005. It looked at Tilikum's life since he was captured in 1983 off the coast of Iceland. Dawn Brancheau - Welcome to Autopsyfiles.org - Home Page - Autopsy . His life there was one of extreme contrasts. "I think we do find some comfort knowing that she accomplished and experienced more in her short 40 years than most people who live long lives. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Topoleski sounded an alarm and grabbed safety equipment. Cookie Notice Unfortunately, on Feb. 24, 2010, the unthinkable happened. The whale, named Tilikum, apparently grabbed Brancheau by her long ponytail, according to the head of animal training at all SeaWorld parks, Chuck Tompkins. (JULIE FLETCHER . [4] [6] [7] She was killed by an orca, Tilikum. The 40-year-old died of multiple traumatic injuries and drowning Wednesday. Mercifully, one witness was quoted as saying that Brancheau "did not look conscious any time I could see her." Dawn Brancheau, who had fallen in love with killer whales when she visited SeaWorld as a girl, was pronounced dead on the deck by the pool. "Dawn was just so special to so many people and I'm not sure you ever get past losing someone like her. From the day of Dawn Brancheaus freak accident, no SeaWorld trainer ever again entered a pool with orcas. She worked for fifteen years with orcas at SeaWorld Orlando and appeared in various TV shows for her tactic of handling an animal . "He was thrashing her around pretty good. Brancheau's body was recovered about 40 minutes later. Workers used nets as an alarm sounded, but it was too late. Tourists could watch the action as they ate and Dawn had climbed out of the pool. She was described as one of the most experienced trainers at the park. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Tilikum's size and weight -- 12,000 pounds, compared with 6,000 to 9,000 pounds for the facility's other killer whales -- were one reason separate procedures were in place for him at the Orlando facility. Her work has been featured in People, Teen Vogue, BET, HipHopDX, XXL Magazine, The Source, Vibe, The Los Angeles Times, and more. Dawn had been working with Tilikum, SeaWorld Orlando's biggest orca, for 16 years (Image: Tribune News Service via Getty Images) It marked the third time the animal had been involved in a human death. The gory details of Dawn Brancheau's death are further evidence that animals who are deprived of everything that is natural and important to them throughout their entire miserable lives in sea parks, circuses, and zoos around the world will continue to attack and kill people whom they see as having a role in the denial of their freedom and family It took only two seconds for a killer whale to yank Dawn Brancheau down into the SeaWorld pool but up to 30 chaotic minutes before rescuers were able to free her lifeless body from the orcas jaws. Tilikum still refused to unclench his teeth. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. I visited the park . ExpandAutoplay. Dawn Brancheau's death was a terrible tragedy, and it was shocking for SeaWorld. Killer whale Tilikum performs on March 30, 2011. a year after the six-ton whale killed trainer Dawn Brancheau. The report claims "Tilikum the whale could clearly be seen at the edge of 'D' pool. After minutes of frenzied work to save 40-year-old Dawn Brancheau, the whale was finally corralled but still refused to unclench its teeth, according to the investigative reports released by the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Dawn Brancheau was a senior animal trainer of the United Stated at SeaWorld and widely known for her love of animals. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Her death left many shocked, and those that knew her personally were heartbroken. Dawn Brancheau was just 40 when she was killed by Tilikum, who was also known as Blackfish, following a show at Seaworld in Orlando, Florida. He added that he watched as she struggled to free her hair from the orca's mouth. PICTURES: Dawn Brancheau SeaWorld Trainer Killed "It was. The formality of the writing is a reprieve from the reality of the event a vicious and brutal attack by an orca named Tilikum, that had been captured at the age of 2 off Iceland's coast and had since been held as part of SeaWorld's captive breeding program, per National Geographic. And in a bizarre 1999 incident, a tourist somehow got past park security after the park's closing time and either fell or was pulled into Tilikum's tank. Chillingly, the captive whale killed his trainer and then refused to release her body. The trainer who died at SeaWorld? Ed Schipul/Wikimedia CommonsSeaWorld animal trainer Dawn Brancheau was tragically killed by an orca during a show in 2010. MEDIAPICTURES: Dawn Brancheau SeaWorld Trainer Killed, MORE ON CRIMESIDERFebruary 25, 2010 - Dawn Brancheau Pictures: SeaWorld Trainer Loved Whale That Killed HerFebruary 24, 2010 - Tillikum the Killer Whale Had Violent Past Before Deadly Attack on SeaWorld TrainerFebruary 24, 2010 - SeaWorld Trainer Killed by Tillikum the Whale, Trending News As Dawn's death played out so publicly, Debbie said it was a "very difficult" time. Whale dies at SeaWorld Orlando after 'persistent health problems', SeaWorld Orlando's orca Kayla becomes third whale to die at park in two years, Terrified fishermen scream as pod of killer whales rams into the side of their small boat, Last killer whale calf EVER to be born at SeaWorld will be arriving soon, SeaWorld San Diego performs its last controversial killer whale show just days after death of Tilikum the Blackfish, Famous 'Blackfish' whale Tilikum who killed trainer and inspired the controversial documentary has died, Heartbreaking footage shows SeaWorld killer whale 'trying to commit suicide' in front of shocked tourists, SeaWorld orca filmed 'slamming head against gate while being held in small pool', Cruel video shows laughing diners scooping up fish and eating them alive, SeaWorld announces it will end captive breeding of killer whales following 'incurable illness' of Tilikum the Blackfish, 'They have a LOT in common' Helen Skelton grows close to Strictly pro Vito Coppola after bonding on tour bus - almost one year after rugby star husband left mum-of-three, Interactive map shows exactly where snow could fall in UK as mercury nosedives to -7C, Doctor tells Harry he believes Prince has Attention Deficit Disorder in live Q&A, Kate Garraway shares Derek's final words as he believed he was about to die, Spencer Matthews 'furious' after Disney delays Everest doc as it shows dead bodies, 'I DIDN'T BREAK THE LAW' Matt Hancock tells lawyers he wants immunity on care home deaths during Covid pandemic, Matt Hancock plotted to use new Covid variant to 'frighten the pants off everyone' in leaked WhatsApp, Loose Women star Linda Robson's 'marriage crisis' after hitting 'rough patch', Cyclist pavement killer risks losing home as neighbours break silence, Mrs Brown's Boys to return with four-part miniseries as filming begins soon, Kelsey Parker taking kids to see pop star husband Tom honoured on Dancing on Ice, King Charles 'offers Harry and Meghan palace suite' after kicking them out of Frogmore, Subscribe to Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror newspapers. This story has been shared 112,868 times. Those who worked with her said their bond was strong and based on love and trust. Instead the attraction now works with the Humane Society of the United States to work against commercial whaling and seal hunts. Her sister said Brancheau wouldn't want anything done to the orca that killed her because she loved the animals like children. In 1991 he was one of three whales involved in the death of Sealand trainer Keltie Byrne. "Some days, I think we are still processing her loss," Debbie said. She added that from her viewpoint, he never let Dawn come to the surface, despite the petite trainer at one point appearing to do her best to escape his jaws, and frantically swimming up for air. Tilikum flailed his tail as workers managed to separate him from other whales, but failed to corral him with plastic nets. "Obviously, the procedures that we've had in place are something we're revisiting at this point.". On the day in question, Tilikum and Brancheau were performing at the Dining with Shamu show at SeaWorld, where guests enjoyed open-air dining with a live killer whale show. Since we just passed the tenth anniversary of her tragic death this is a timely question about Dawn Brancheau's death at the "fins" of Tilikum, a large (!) According to Dawn's Foundation, a non-profit that Brancheau's family founded in the wake of her death that aims to improve the lives of both children and animals in need, Brancheau saw the famous Shamu show as a young girl and was determined to become a whale trainer. He was becoming frantic him self, said Chahine Kish, who was cleaning tables in the poolside buffet called Dine With Shamu when she looked up and saw what was hap pening. It was violent," witness Victoria Biniak told the Orlando Sentinel. SeaWorld animal trainer Dawn Brancheau was tragically killed by an orca during a show in 2010. It might have been an unusual dream for a girl from landlocked Indiana but, from all accounts, Brancheau was a singular person. #inline-recirc-item--id-d47d96b4-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-d47d96b4-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { "Dawn followed hers and lived each day to the fullest. "He had a great relationship with her, and she had a great relationship with him. She said: "I don't think any of us will everforget where we were when we heard the devastating news. As a family, they've built playgrounds for local communities, planted community gardens, sponsored youth development programmes, helped low-resource areas with tutoring and counselling, supported charities and supplied personal care products to homeless. She had a special relationship with the huge killer whale, Tilikum, also known as Blackfish. After the massive whale was finally trapped. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { The orca's was so violent with Brancheau that part of her scalp was "forcibly torn from the head," the autopsy said. Brancheau drowns after Tilikum pulls her underwater by her . In 2016, SeaWorld announced it would stop breeding orcas in captivity, and many of the parks theatrical shows featuring orcas have been subsequently retired or completely eliminated. So its unsurprising that we have a number of encounters around the country, divers fishermen and stuff like that.. But on Wednesday the whales appeared agitated. Thirty minutes later, and after being isolated in a special medical pool with a hydraulic base, Dawn was finally freed from Tilikum, the largest orca in captivity and the animal she had worked with for 16 years. Thad said he watched a video that shows Brancheau allowing her ponytail to drop into the water in front of the killer whale, prompting him a message to play. Brancheau's death was undoubtedly shocking but was it unexpected? "If we were at SeaWorld for the day, we attended every show that Dawn performed in. La entrenadora Dawn Brancheau con Tilikum, minutos antes de que ocurra el fatal incidente. It ended with the violent death of 40-year-old Dawn Brancheau, who worked there for 15 years. Debbie and her four other siblings were in different locations when the news of Dawn's death made its way to her family and friends. She was lying with her face next to Tilikum's - the orca she had spent countless hours with and who had always treated her as a trusted companion. Watching the Shamu show at SeaWorld Ohio, she was left bewildered and in that one moment decided 'I want to do that'. She died due to damage caused to her organs by a direct blow on it along with being drowned to death. For 45 minutes, he kept Dawn's broken body on the pool with him, despite attempts from the other trainers to distract him with nets and food. This was cause enough for him to turn around to push the alarm button. One witness said she saw Dawn "scrambling" to get out of the water, and Tilikum swim straight towards her and "impact her squarely in the chest". Tilikum released Dawn 45 minutes after he grabbed and drowned her. Horrifically, her spinal cord was severed, while she also suffered from broken ribs, a broken jaw and a post-mortem revealed she died from both drowning and blunt force injury. Dawn Therese Brancheau ( ne LoVerde, April 16, 1969 - February 24, 2010) was an American senior animal trainer at SeaWorld. According to Dawn's Foundation, a non-profit that Brancheau's family founded in the wake of her death that aims to improve the lives of both children and animals in need, Brancheau saw the famous Shamu show as a young girl and was determined to become a whale trainer. A SEAWORLD visitor recalled the terrifying moment she went to take a photo of an orca only to see a dead trainer in its mouth.Dawn Brancheau was dragg. He and two other whales were involved in the drowning of a trainer at a Victoria, British Columbia, marine park in 1991. on Feb. 24, 2010, Brancheau's death affected massive change for SeaWorld and for the whale himself. Shortly after she was buried, SeaWorld enforced the moratorium which was subsequently permanently enforced by OSHA. Suddenly, Dawn was dragged into the water. We attempted to pull the net across the pool but it was catching near around the rocks, said Jeremy Rippy, 40. SeaWorld trainers were forbidden from hopping into the water with Tilikum, as they commonly did with the theme park's other orcas. The family launched The Dawn Brancheau Foundation a year after her death to mark her 42nd birthday. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. By 13:43 Tilikum was seen swimming with her lifeless body in his mouth. Dawn was safety conscious and was known to adore Tilikum and the other animals at the theme park. A police report written after the horrifying incident in February 2010 paints a truly harrowing picture. U.S. motorist wounds Canadian border officer in shooting, then kills self, Students in blackface re-enact Chris Brown beating Rihanna, Univision fires anchor for racist Michelle Obama insult, 'Star Wars Episode 8' to be released May 2017, Talking Barbie is too 'creepy' for some parents, Scammer tries to swindle top tax-crime fighter, Autopsy: Dawn Brancheau suffered fractures to jawbone, ribs and a cervical vertebra, Brancheau was working with a whale at SeaWorld when whale pulled her underwater, Whale had been linked to two other deaths since 1991. So far their work in her memory has raised and disbursed over $1.5 million dollars to make a difference to children and animals in need. But before she started down the path that would lead her to her dream job, she graduated from the University of South Carolina with a dual degree in psychology and animal behavior. Orcas are very curious, highly intelligent, and really social animals, said Karl McLeod from Australias Department of Conservation. In 1999, Tilikum was blamed for the death of a 27-year-old man whose body was found floating in a tank at SeaWorld, the apparent victim of a whale's "horseplay," authorities said then. Shortly after her death Sealand closed and put Tilikum up for sale. The 27-year-old man was found naked and draped across the orca's back, having died from hypothermia. UK, UA, Australia News in the World2. The federal worker safety agency had been trying unsuccessfully for years to get SeaWorld to comply with more rigorous protocols. FOR years Dawn Brancheau dreamed of working at SeaWorld - but it was a job that ultimately killed her when she was attacked by Tilikum the orca. Investigators said the incident began calmly at about 1:30 p.m. last Wednesday, when about 50 guests were on a photo tour at the Orlando, Fla., park, watching through underwater glass at Shamu Stadium and waiting for the 6-ton star of the show to dive. Authorities concluded that Dawn died due to 'drowning and traumatic injuries.'. She had always had a huge love of animals and set her heart on becoming a trainer at Seaworld after visiting the attraction in Orlando, Florida when she was a child. As a model student at high school in Merrillville, Indiana, she did as many extracurricular activities as she could and excelled at many of them. PICTURES: Dawn Brancheau SeaWorld Trainer Killed. The photo guests were told the whale, named Tilikum but known to SeaWorld fans as Tilly, was playing with the trainer and was about to dive to give them a great snapshot. CCTV from the park showed Dawn entering the water at 13:38. Debbie said: "We were in awe of Dawn and the way she cared for the animals and interacted with them. Dawn Brancheau died from blunt force injuries and drowning Ed Schipul/Wikimedia Commons Once Tilikum had Brancheau in his mouth, he alternated holding on to her by her neck and shoulder and other parts her body. On February 24, 2010, Tilikum killed Dawn Brancheau, a 40-year-old SeaWorld trainer. In January of 2017, Tilikum died at SeaWorld, after having lived in captivity for more than three decades. The 41-year-old was snatched and dragged into the water during a live show so quickly that no one saw it happening - not even the trainer working as her 'spotter'. Growing up, Dawn was a nothing short of a high-achiever - being an the avid learner who could do anything she set her mind to. Colombia wants to deport "cocaine hippos" to stop them from multiplying Another worker, Mark Barner, 23, said it seemed like 10 minutes before the rescuers got the heavy nets in place. Despite efforts by rescuers, she could not be saved. Bernadette Giacomazzo is a NYC-based editor, writer, photographer, and publicist with a career spanning more than two decades in the entertainment industry. [3] [4] She worked with orcas at SeaWorld Orlando for fifteen years, including a leading role in revamping the Shamu show, [3] [5] and was SeaWorld's poster girl. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Faulty Toyotas have killed 52 in United States, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, I'm a professional cleaner ditch these 4 household products immediately, Another train derails in Ohio, forces residents to shelter-in-place -- just weeks after East Palestine disaster, Tom Sandoval speaks out on Raquel Leviss affair: I deserve your anger, Shoeless Ariana Madix awkwardly tries to avoid cheating Tom Sandoval, Prince Harry was scared to lose Meghan Markle after fight that led to therapy, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant allegedly flashes gun at a strip club, Chris Rock Places All The Blame On The Will Smith Slap On Jada Pinkett Smith And Red Table Talk: Everybody Called Him A Bitch!, Ariana Madix, Tom Sandoval have awkward moment amid cheating scandal. Tens of thousands have benefited from the work the family does to make the world a better place for Dawn. Dawn was just so special to so many people and I'm not sure you ever get past losing someone like her. Dawn Brancheau was only 40 years old. Dawn Brancheau died on February 24, 2010, doing what she loved Credit: Orlando Sentinnel 6 She was an experienced marine life trainer and known to be safety-focused Credit: Splash News Dawn's shocking death ignited heated debates around whales in captivity and spurred changes to SeaWorld's safety practices. Chilling new accounts from eyewitnesses detail the desperate attempts of dozens of park workers, paramedics and others to save the trainers life. Shana Groves was in the trainer lounge when I heard the G pool alarm go off. I do believe that he loved her, and I know that she loved him, said John Hargrove, a senior trainer. 2023 Getty Images. She said: "All we wanted to do was have the space to grieve the loss of our beloved Dawn. (AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, Julie Fletcher) . Dawn Brancheau's story ended where it began. Billed as Shamu, Tilikum, a 12,000-pound (5,440-kilogram) male killer whale,. An Orange County Circuit Court judge late Monday granted Dawn Brancheau's family its request for a temporary restraining order against the Medical Examiner's Office and the Orange County. In 2013, the documentary Blackfish was released. 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Because of Tilikum's history, as well as his size, trainers did not get into the water with him and specific procedures were in place for working with him, SeaWorld officials have said. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved.