Heartbreaking footage has resurfaced of orca trainer Alexis Martinez, who was killed by one of the creators in 2009.
The experienced trainer - who worked with the animals for a number of years at Tenerife's Loro Parque - was highly experienced with looking after the apex predators.
Here is an emotional video of him in action:
Advert
In December 2009, he was paired with the offspring of Kalina, one of the few killer whales to spend time at all four SeaWorld parks.
Nicknamed 'Baby Shamu', she died in October 2010 from bacteraemia.
Her offspring Keto, 28, is a 6,600lb, male, killer whale who currently lives at Loro Parque.
The accomplished trainer, 29, was tasked with looking after Keto, loaned to the resort’s Orca Ocean attraction.
However, the orca, who had flown in from the US, had never been in the open ocean before.
On 24 December, Keto 'appeared in a good mood' as Martinez joined the orca in the pool.
Another trainer, Brian Rokeach, was positioned on-stage, as other members of staff were standing nearby.
After attempting to perform a stand-on spy hop move, balancing on the killer whale as it came out of the water, he fell over as Keto leaned to one side.
Keto failed to perform a number of stunts, as Martínez and the whale were floating on the surface of the pool.
The orca then ‘positioned himself’ between his trainer and the stage before pushing Martinez to the bottom of the pool.
Keto then 'violently played with his body underneath the water'.
Orca Ocean assistant supervisor Rafael Sanchez, in his testimony to investigators, said: "The animal in question moved towards him and hit him and violently played with his body."
Patricia Delponti, director of communications and public relations at Loro Parque, also said at the time: “This was a very difficult time for everyone, and if incorrect information was shared with those closest to Alexis in the time immediately following the accident, it can fairly be attributed to the nature of an emergency response.”
SeaWorld briefly stopped water work with whales at three of its parks in the immediate aftermath of Martinez’s death.
Martínez's death came two months before SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau was infamously killed at the popular attraction in Orlando, Florida by an orca called Tilikum.
Topics: Animals
Anish Vij