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Killer whale 'went for ponytail' Killer whale 'went for ponytail'
(20 minutes later)
A killer whale which pulled its trainer to her death at a Florida marine park was probably attracted by her ponytail, a SeaWorld Orlando official has said. A killer whale which pulled its trainer to her death at a Florida marine park was probably attracted by her long ponytail, experts have told US media.
Dawn Brancheau's long hair swung out in front of the orca as she finished a training session and the whale grabbed it, Chuck Tompkins told US media. Dawn Brancheau's hair swung out in front of the orca as she ended a training session at SeaWorld Orlando and the whale grabbed it, they said.
Horrified tourists using the viewing glass could see the 12,000lb (5.9tn) whale attack Ms Brancheau underwater.Horrified tourists using the viewing glass could see the 12,000lb (5.9tn) whale attack Ms Brancheau underwater.
The park is to keep the animal despite its part in this and two other deaths.The park is to keep the animal despite its part in this and two other deaths.
Sea World curator Chuck Tompkins: "He grabbed her hair and pulled her underwater". Courtesy Good Morning America/ABC NewsSea World curator Chuck Tompkins: "He grabbed her hair and pulled her underwater". Courtesy Good Morning America/ABC News
SeaWorld said its staff would continue to interact with the whale, named Tilikum, despite calls to release or destroy it.SeaWorld said its staff would continue to interact with the whale, named Tilikum, despite calls to release or destroy it.
But all orca shows were suspended after Wednesday's death as the park reviewed its safety procedures.But all orca shows were suspended after Wednesday's death as the park reviewed its safety procedures.
Ms Brancheau's sister, Diane Gross, said her sister, 40, had loved the park's whales as though they were her children.Ms Brancheau's sister, Diane Gross, said her sister, 40, had loved the park's whales as though they were her children.
"It was her dream job since she was nine years old," she added, speaking of her sister's ambition to work at SeaWorld."It was her dream job since she was nine years old," she added, speaking of her sister's ambition to work at SeaWorld.
'After a good session''After a good session'
Speaking to ABC television, Mr Tompkins said the casual swing of the trainer's ponytail was the likely cause of the attack. Chuck Tompkins, chief of animal training at SeaWorld Orlando, said the casual swing of the trainer's ponytail was the likely cause of the attack.
Dawn Brancheau had been working with whales for yearsDawn Brancheau had been working with whales for years
"What we have found out is that Dawn had just finished up a very good session with this animal," the chief of animal training said. "What we have found out is that Dawn had just finished up a very good session with this animal," he told ABC television's Good Morning America programme on Thursday.
"She was interacting with him, petting him on the nose. Dawn had very long hair in a ponytail. That ponytail had swung in front of him. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her underwater and held her underwater.""She was interacting with him, petting him on the nose. Dawn had very long hair in a ponytail. That ponytail had swung in front of him. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her underwater and held her underwater."
Thad Lacinak, a former head trainer at SeaWorld who trained Ms Brancheau, said after viewing video of the attack that he believed she had made a simple but fatal mistake. Thad Lacinak, a former head trainer at SeaWorld who coached Ms Brancheau, said on Friday after viewing video of the attack that he believed she had made a simple mistake.
"She wasn't, obviously, watching what she was doing with her ponytail and the ponytail drifted into the water," he told ABC."She wasn't, obviously, watching what she was doing with her ponytail and the ponytail drifted into the water," he told ABC.
Had she lived, Mr Lacinak believes, she would have acknowledged it was her mistake. "Dawn, if she was standing here with me right now, would tell you that it was her mistake in allowing that to happen," he added.
An eyewitness, Sue Nichols, saw Ms Brancheau petting the whale and talking to it.An eyewitness, Sue Nichols, saw Ms Brancheau petting the whale and talking to it.
"Then all of a sudden he just reached up," she said."Then all of a sudden he just reached up," she said.
"He got her in the water, and he took her underwater, and he had her under for quite a while. He came up out of the water, and he had her in his mouth.""He got her in the water, and he took her underwater, and he had her under for quite a while. He came up out of the water, and he had her in his mouth."
An alarm was sounded and park employees scattered around the pool with a net as audience members were rushed away, she added.An alarm was sounded and park employees scattered around the pool with a net as audience members were rushed away, she added.
Third deathThird death
Earlier, Mr Tompkins said Tilikum would not survive in the wild because the animal had been captive for so long.Earlier, Mr Tompkins said Tilikum would not survive in the wild because the animal had been captive for so long.
He added that destroying the whale was not an option because it was an important part of the breeding programme at SeaWorld and a companion to seven other whales there.He added that destroying the whale was not an option because it was an important part of the breeding programme at SeaWorld and a companion to seven other whales there.
However, this is the third death involving the orca.However, this is the third death involving the orca.
In 1991, trainer Keltie Lee Byrne fell into a tank holding Tillikum and two other whales at Sealand of the Pacific in Victoria, Canada.In 1991, trainer Keltie Lee Byrne fell into a tank holding Tillikum and two other whales at Sealand of the Pacific in Victoria, Canada.
An inquest found the whales had prevented her from climbing out of the tank and ruled her death an accident.An inquest found the whales had prevented her from climbing out of the tank and ruled her death an accident.
At SeaWorld Orlando, in 1999, the body of Daniel Dukes, 27, was found naked, draped across the whale's body.At SeaWorld Orlando, in 1999, the body of Daniel Dukes, 27, was found naked, draped across the whale's body.
He had reportedly got past security, remaining in the park after it had closed, and wearing only swimming trunks, he either jumped, fell or was pulled into the frigid water of the huge tank.He had reportedly got past security, remaining in the park after it had closed, and wearing only swimming trunks, he either jumped, fell or was pulled into the frigid water of the huge tank.
An inquest ruled that he had died of hypothermia but officials also said it appeared Tilikum had bitten the man and torn off his trunks, apparently believing he was a toy to play with.An inquest ruled that he had died of hypothermia but officials also said it appeared Tilikum had bitten the man and torn off his trunks, apparently believing he was a toy to play with.