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Chilling Final Words Of Trainer Before Being Ripped Apart By ‘Psychotic’ Trio Of Killer Whales
The chilling final words of a trainer before she was ripped apart by a ‘psychotic’ trio of killer whales have been revealed.
Marine biology student Keltie Byrne worked part-time at Sealand of the Pacific in Canada in 1991.
On one fateful day, the trainer slipped, falling into a 26-foot pool with two female killer whales and the infamous ‘serial killer’ whale Tilikum, marking the beginning of the creature’s controversial reputation.
Tilikum’s captivity, events in his life, and the 2013 documentary Blackfish sparked controversy and a deeper look into the male whale’s life and what led him to kill three people.
Captured off the coast of Iceland in 1983, the killer whale was put into a concrete holding tank at Hafnarfjördur Marine Zoo near Reykjavíc at two years old.
The creature was shipped off to Sealand in 1984, spending 14 years in a 26-foot pool with the two female orcas, Haida II and Nootka IV.
Following the tragic death of Bryne, Sealand closed its doors for good – all orcas were sold to SeaWorld Florida.
Tilikum, weighing around 12,000 pounds, was used as a male breeder and starred in The Shamu Show, which millions of people visited.
In 1999, the body of Daniel Dukes was found in Tilikum’s tank. SeaWorld claimed he had trespassed after visiting the park the day prior.
Senior orca trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed by the whale during a show in 2010 while crowds watched on in horror.
Brancheau’s death resulted in worldwide coverage, leading SeaWorld to end its orca breeding program and stop its shows.
Experts believe that the creature’s time in captivity made it go ‘psychotic.’
Steve Huxter, head of animal training at Sealand at the time of Byrne’s death, explained why he believed the orca killed for the first time.
He said: “They never had a plaything in the pool that was so interactive. They just got incredibly excited and stimulated.”
Eyewitnesses at the park in 1991 said Tilikum grabbed Byrne as the two other orcas prevented the park’s staff from reaching her.
The trainer was reportedly able to reach the surface two times before being dragged underwater again.
Trainer Karen McGee recounted to the Mirror: “I just heard her scream my name.
“I threw the life ring out to her. She was trying to grab the ring, but the whale, basically, wouldn’t let her.
“To them, it was a play session, and she was in the water.”
Visitors also heard Byrne’s chilling screams, as she reportedly called out: “I don’t want to die.”
It took several hours before they were able to recover Byrne’s body.
Blackfish explores the ethics of keeping orcas in captivity, alleging that the stresses of confinement and forced performances contributed to to Tilikum’s aggression.
The killer whale died on January 6, 2017, due to a bacterial infection.
Related Article: SeaWorld Orca Who Killed Trainer And ‘Played With His Body’ Dies At 29
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