Viral footage captures the horrifying moment a dolphin turns on its trainer and drags them underwater. Watch the clip below:
Families were left terrified after Sundance the dolphin went rogue at the Miami Seaquarium during a routine performance with its trainer.
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During the Flipper show, the 23-year-old dolphin can be seen diverting from its choreography before making a beeline for its trainer.
Two performers scrambled out of the pool to safety, leaving Sundance’s trainer in danger.
The audience could only watch on as the dolphin taunted its trainer, plunging her underwater before she could reach the edge of the pool.
She finally escaped the terrifying ordeal, pulling herself from the pool and resting on the side. Her co-worker runs to her rescue, kneeling down beside her.
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Photographer Shannon Carpenter (TikTok - @scphoto_ky) captured the horrifying moment on camera and posted it to TikTok with the caption: “A dolphin trainer was just attacked by Flipper. Police just arrived.”
Speaking to local news network, WPLG Local 10, Carpenter said that the kids were ‘cheering and thinking this was neat’, without understanding the graveness of the situation.
“You could tell the adults knew something was wrong,” he said. “You could tell she was in some type of pain.”
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The trainer was swiftly picked up by an ambulance and taken to a local hospital, the outlet reported.
On Monday night (12 April), Miami Seaquarium released a statement on the incident to CBS News Miami.
It stated: “A dolphin and trainer accidentally collided in the water on Saturday while performing a routine behaviour as part of the Flipper Show.
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“This was an uncomfortable interaction for both of them and the dolphin reacted by breaking away from the routine and striking the trainer.
"As a precaution, Miami-Dade County safety authorities were contacted.
"Our family extends to include the animals in our care, our team members and our guests. While there is no apparent serious injury, a careful watch and follow-up evaluations will ensure the best care for all."
TikTok users weighed in on the situation, with one stating: “This is why I refuse to go to sea world or any other park that exploits mammals for profit.”
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A third person said: “We expect animals to dance for our entertainment...In an unnaturally small container and are socked when that doesn’t work out.”
Abbi Murray