ORLANDO, Fla. — A New Hampshire family who witnessed the death of a SeaWorld trainer by a killer whale is suing the Orlando theme park.
VIDEO REPORT: SeaWorld Sued By Family
According to this lawsuit, the New Hampshire family saw the attack up close and the parents say their 10-year-old son is having a hard time erasing it from his memory.
The lawsuit against SeaWorld was filed this week and the parents of the 10-year-old boy, Todd and Suzanne Connell, are seeking damages in excess of $15,000 because they say he has been traumatized.
The child was with his family at the Dine With Shamu Experience in February and claims to have witnessed Tilikum the killer whale grab trainer Dawn Brancheau and then pull her underwater.
The family of the boy says he has had a loss of enjoyment of life, distress, panic attacks, fear, and anxiety.
The family is also suing the theme park for negligence, saying SeaWorld decided to keep the killer whale even though the whale had a violent history, including killing a man who sneaked into the pool in 1999.
Thursday, SeaWorld confirmed it received a lawsuit but wouldn't comment until the suit had been fully reviewed.
The attorney who represents the family is expected to speak out about the suit Friday. WFTV tried calling the family in New Hampshire, but hadn't heard back before 6:00pm.
Previous Stories: August 25, 2010: Family Of Trainer Killed At SeaWorld Hires Attorney August 24, 2010: SeaWorld Calls OSHA Report "Unfounded," Will Contest Citation August 23, 2010: SeaWorld Fined $75K In Trainer's Attack Death
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