911 Calls Released In SeaWorld Trainer Death

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Orange County Fire Department on Thursday released the 911 calls made by SeaWorld last Wednesday when veteran trainer Dawn Brancheau was pulled under by Tilikum the killer whale.

Brancheau, 40, died after rubbing the 22-foot, 12,000-pound orca. The animal grabbed her ponytail and pulled her into the water in front of about 20 spectators.

The 911 caller seemed confused about what had happened to Brancheau. She was very calm and there was no urgency in her voice.

911 CALLS: Employee Calls For Help VIDEO REPORT: 911 Calls Released

Eyewitnesses told the sheriff's office that it took about 30 minutes for other SeaWorld trainers to get Tilikum to let go of Brancheau and said she appeared to be unconscious the whole time.

A tourist's video, moments before the attack, of veteran trainer Dawn Brancheau with Tilikum the killer whale shows no sign of agitation (watch it). What it does show, however, is Brancheau swinging her wavy ponytail back and forth.

Moments later, the orca grabbed her by the ponytail and didn't let go for about 30 minutes. A SeaWorld employee called 911 and calmly told the operator as much as she knew.

911: "Orange County Fire Rescue. What's your address?"

Caller: "6600 Sea Harbor Drive."

911: "Okay."

Caller: "Um, SeaWorld."

911: "Ok, and where's the patient located inside the park?"

Caller: "They are at Shamu Stadium... We actually have a trainer in the water with one of our whales, the whale that they're not supposed to be in the water with."

911: "Okay."

Caller: "So we don't know what's going on, um, we were just told to call and have people here on standby when they get the person out."

911: "Okay and do you know if, so you don't know if the person was injured or if they're having a medical problem?"

Caller: "No idea."

911: Okay, but someone is on scene and they are getting them out of the water now."

Caller: "There are people working on it, yes."

911: "Okay."

While she was talking to the 911 operator, other trainers were using nets to persuade the whale into the smaller pool equipped with a lift so they could, in effect, beach Tilikum.

Caller: "There are about two, three-dozen people over there right now."

911: "Alright. We'll get somebody in route."

Caller: "Okay, come through gate number three to Shamu Stadium."

911: "Gate three."

Caller: "Gate three."

911: "Alright, got it."

Caller: "Okay?"

911: "Thank you."

Caller: "Thank you, bye."

There were two more 911 calls after that one. In one of the calls, the SeaWorld employee told the 911 operator that they had pulled the defibrillator. In the second call, she told the 911 operator which SeaWorld gate was ready for the ambulance to enter the park.

SeaWorld's former curator, Thad Lacinak, told WFTV Thursday he would expect that Brancheau tried to pull her hair loose from Tilikum.

Eyewitnesses said Tilikum was flapping his tail wildly, but Lacinak said it could be a sign that Tilikum was excited from the new experience of having a trainer in the water with him and that could be why he didn't want to let go.

The whales are actually trained to swim away from the nets with positive reinforcement, or treats, in the event that something tragic might happen. When the whale is beached, it's immobilized, and that's how they got Brancheau away from the whale.

Tilikum is still not performing and the trainers are staying out of the water until SeaWorld's study is done.

Previous Stories: February 28, 2010: SeaWorld's Whale Show Resumes After Trainer Death February 26, 2010: Ex-Head Trainer At SeaWorld: "She Made A Mistake" February 26, 2010: SeaWorld Faces Major Public Relations Challenge February 25, 2010: Autopsy: SeaWorld Trainer Died From "Traumatic Injuries" February 25, 2010: PETA Speaks Out On SeaWorld Trainer Death February 25, 2010: Personal Story: SeaWorld Trainer Dawn Brancheau February 25, 2010: Should Tilikum Be Returned To The Wild? February 25, 2010: Slain Whale Trainer Had True Passion For Job February 25, 2010: Trainer Killed At SeaWorld Loved Killer Whales February 25, 2010: SeaWorld Guests React Day After Whale Attack February 25, 2010: Whale Pulls Trainer Off Platform By Hair In Fatal Attack February 24, 2010: Whale Kills Female Trainer At SeaWorld's Shamu Stadium

WFTV