Whale kills SeaWorld trainer as guests watch

Top trainer: No signs before fatal whale attack

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The chief of animal training at SeaWorld said there was no sign of problems with a killer whale before it killed a trainer in front of horrified onlookers in Orlando.

Chuck Tompkins told the CBS "Early Show" on Thursday it was not true that the whale was misbehaving, as some witnesses have said.

Veteran trainer Dawn Brancheau was rubbing the whale named Tilikum after a noontime show Wednesday when the whale grabbed her and pulled her into the water, killing her.

Tompkins said the 12,000-pound whale had done really well during the show and the trainer was rewarding him by rubbing him. Some witnesses said they had heard the whale was not responding earlier to commands.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Officials in Florida say a veteran 40-year-old trainer at SeaWorld was killed by a whale when she slipped and fell in its tank.

SeaWorld Orlando President Dan Brown says officials are investigating but it appears to be an accident. He says the trainer was one of the park's most experienced.

Spectator Victoria Biniak told WKMG-TV that the trainer had just finished explaining to the audience a show they were about to see Wednesday when the whale appeared to grab the trainer and thrash her around.

Brown says SeaWorld has never experienced an incident like this.

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