Dawn Brancheau, a dedicated trainer at the park, was killed in a tragic encounter with Tilikum, a 12,000-pound killer whale known as “Tilly” and sometimes referred.
To by the stage name “Shamu.” The incident took place in March 2010. This tragic event sparked a thorough inquiry.
resulted in important policy changes and were carried out by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The prohibition on trainers going into the water.
With whales while they were performing was one of the most prominent steps taken to avoid such tragedies. Susanne De Wit, an eyewitness, gave a terrifying description of what happened that day.
She told the Orange County Sheriff’s Office about the terrifying time Tilikum grabbed Brancheau and dragged her underwater in a way that was both frightening and unusual.
De Wit remembered, “They told us the whale was playing with the trainer.” Abruptly, I saw Shamu seize the trainer by the shoulder and drag her down close to the observation glass.