Dawn Brancheau
Dawn Therese Brancheau (née LoVerde, April 16, 1969 – February 24, 2010) was an American senior animal trainer at SeaWorld. She worked with orcas at SeaWorld Orlando for fifteen years, including a leading role in revamping the Shamu show, and was SeaWorld's poster girl.[1]
Dawn Brancheau | |
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Born | Dawn Therese LoVerde April 16, 1969 Cedar Lake, Indiana, U.S. |
Died | February 24, 2010 (aged 40) Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
Cause of death | Drowning and blunt-force trauma |
Resting place | Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Worth Township, Illinois, U.S. |
Occupation | SeaWorld trainer |
Years active | 1994–2010 |
Spouse(s) | Scott Brancheau (m. 1996–2010) |
Parent(s) | Marion LoVerde Charles LoVerde |
Brancheau was killed by an orca, Tilikum, becoming the only SeaWorld trainer killed by an animal. However, her death was the third fatality associated with Tilikum, and many other trainers have been seriously injured by orcas.[2]
Dawn Brancheau Media
Brancheau on a slide out, which is a platform covered by less than a foot of water, with orca Katina at SeaWorld Orlando
References
- ↑ "Years of troubled waters for SeaWorld's killer whale shows". News Advance. March 17, 2016 – via Associated Press.[dead link]
- ↑ SeaWorld trainer killed by killer whale. CNN. February 25, 2010. http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/02/24/killer.whale.trainer.death/index.html. Retrieved March 11, 2010.