11- Tilikum, Seaworld Incident
Tilikum was an incredibly popular killer whale that certainly lived up to its species’
common name. Before being purchased by SeaWorld to perform in several of the park’s shows,
Tilikum had already been involved in the death of a trainer. Years later, in 1999, a 27-year-old
visitor decided to hide just before the establishment closed for the day. He wanted to swim with
the massive sea creature and sneaked into the orca tank after evading security. The
next morning, his body was discovered, covered in wounds, abrasions, and contusions. An autopsy
revealed drowning as the cause of death. Though several cameras monitored the area, SeaWorld
representatives told the authorities that the incident wasn’t recorded. Among the
many injuries discovered, the most prominent ones seemed to be puncture wounds to his legs
and a torn scrotum.
10- Death at a rollercoaster
SeaWorld is arguably best known for its marine animals and water-related shows, but the massive
corporation has several different branches. Legally known as SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment,
the Orlando-based company has bought or founded several theme and entertainment parks, including
Busch Gardens, in Tampa, Florida. This African-inspired venue was host to the strange and untimely
death of a 13-year-old girl. On June the 10th of 1995, the unnamed child rode the Kumba
roller coaster and suffered from a heart attack immediately after getting off. Unbeknown to
her mother, the child was suffering from a rare heart condition. Soon after her death,
the mother sued SeaWorld, claiming the park hadn’t administered CPR fast enough. Though
she was awarded $500,000, her history of drug abuse prompted the court to argue for a 30%
deduction of that sum, considering her partially responsible.
9-Justin Savers Inversso
During September of 2011, 21-year-old lifeguard Justin Savers Inversso, was instructing patrons
to leave the Key West Rapids ride in Adventure Island. The weather conditions had grown unpredictable,
and employees were escorting people away from the attractions. Savers Inversso had been
working over 700 feet above-ground when lightning struck him. The young SeaWorld employee was
rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Unfortunately, he died soon after. The Occupational
Safety and Health Administration cited the Park for failing to follow procedures in the
midst of a thunderstorm. Since these measures could have helped avoid Saver’s death, it
made SeaWorld liable for a lawsuit.
8-Eye injury
During the 2020 pandemic, a family visiting the Deep Sea World Park was shaken up by a
hand-sanitizer accident. An unnamed toddler had approached the dispenser with his mother,
Katie, expecting it to squirt alcohol onto his hands. Instead, it ended up shooting into
his eyes, due to a malfunction, leaving him screaming in agony. The family’s last name
was not reported in order to protect the child’s identity. Katie told the media that park employees
demanded she pay the entry fee before the child could receive medical attention and,
once inside, they didn’t rush them to the infirmary. Due to the delays, the family called
an ambulance and was rushed to the ER. Doctors informed the parents that the three-year-old
child might suffer permanent damage to his left eye. As of November 2020, it’s not
been reported whether the child would recover his sight.
7-Child endangerment
A 19-year-old woman, whose name wasn’t released to the public, attempted to murder her four-month-old
child at the Busch Gardens Park. She was arguing with her partner when she suddenly threw the
baby over a fence and directly onto the park’s monorail track. She would later claim her
daughter accidentally slipped out of her hands, but the railing was 8 feet tall. This effectively
made it impossible for the child to simply slip. Fortunately, one of the operators managed
to spot the baby and shut off the monorail’s power. The child was badly hurt, sporting
several head injuries. She ultimately managed to make a full recovery, and the unnamed mother
was taken to court. Though she had initially declared herself innocent, the woman eventually
admitted that she had tried to kill the baby. The reason was as terrifying as the act itself.
She wanted to prove to the baby’s father that she could do whatever she wanted to her
daughter.
6-Roller coaster malfunction
On October 15, 2005, and May 12, 2016, several passengers suffered hellish experiences on
the same ride, the SheiKra, located in Busch Gardens Tampa. The first incident was less
nerve-wracking than the second, with patrons being stranded on the holding brake for almost
an hour. They were eventually brought down by the park’s employees, and no one was
injured in the process. During 2016, a second malfunction left 24 passengers hanging 200
feet over the ground. To put things into perspective, that’s taller than The Arc de Triomphe.
Due to delays in the rescue efforts, they were forced to remain stuck up in the air
for close to two hours! Fortunately, no one was wounded in the process, and the ride was
once again reopened four days later.
5- Baywatch Ski Show
During a Baywatch Ski Show at SeaWorld, Ohio, a mechanical issue caused a motorboat to crash
into the audience. The water vehicle was 18-feet-long, making it as long as a fully-grown giraffe.
4,000 visitors witnessed how at least 22 people were smashed and sent flying into the air.
Actors from the show immediately jumped onto the seats, helping to lift the boat and rescue
the patrons buried underneath. The victims’ ages ranged from 2 to 78 years, and four of
them were rushed to the ER in critical condition. The rest suffered relatively minor injuries
and received less urgent medical attention. No casualties were reported, and no further
information was provided regarding any long-term damage sustained by the victims.
4-Big Bad Wolf
In early May of 1993, one of the cameras monitoring the Big Bad Wolf roller coaster at the SeaWorld-owned
Busch Gardens Williamsburg required maintenance. An unnamed 63-year-old employee approached
the area, attempting to uncover the lens. While concentrating on his work, he didn’t
realise the suspended cars were approaching. He was struck in the head, resulting in catastrophic
injuries. He was immediately rushed to the hospital, and the ride remained closed for
a full week before reopening. The man, whose name wasn’t released to the public, died
at the hospital soon after. This wasn’t the only deadly incident involving the roller
coaster. Twenty years later, a constructor was painting the ride’s exterior when the
platform he was working on overturned. He was dead by the time first responders arrived
at the location.
3-Amanda Bourassa
Amanda Bourassa was 21-years-old when she suffered a terrible accident while working
as a zookeeper at SeaWorld’s Busch Gardens. She’d been giving a private behind-the-scenes
tour to her parents and boyfriend, allowing them to witness the training session of one
of the park’s lions. The objective of these sessions was to encourage the animal’s good
behavior during medical examinations. Up until that moment, the wild animal allowed his handlers
to touch it without incidents and responded to its name. However, that day, it reacted
viciously when Bourassa attempted to slip her hand into its enclosure. The young woman’s
family was witness to the sudden attack. The lion bit the zookeeper’s hand and pulled
hard enough to sever her arm at the elbow. She was rushed to the hospital, where surgeons
tried to reattach her limb. Their efforts, unfortunately, were fruitless.
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2-Keith Clarke
Keith Clarke and his family were visiting Discovery Cove Water Park when he decided
to explore one of the venue’s pools. The spot was styled to look like the bottom of
the sea, with real coral reefs. While swimming, he suffered from a relatively minor cut on
his thumb. What might’ve been an easily-treated injury to any other person, presented a deadly
threat to the hemophiliac Clarke. Upon his arrival at the ER, doctors realized that the
patient was suffering from septic shock and organ failure. He refused further treatment
at the local hospital and was flown to his native Britain via air ambulance. Once there,
in an attempt to save his life, surgeons amputated both his legs. They considered this was the
only way to keep the infection from spreading further. Unfortunately, none of these measures
worked, and Clarke died soon after with streptococcal septicemia ruled as the cause of death.
1- Death of Dawn Brancheau
Once again, Tilikum the killer whale makes an appearance on our list. This time, the
killing was so brutal that it changed the way sea-themed parks deal with aquatic animals
during shows all across America. Dawn Brancheau was one of SeaWorld’s most popular trainers.
She’d been working with orcas for fifteen years by the time of her death and had also
been part of the famous Shamu show. As she was rubbing Tilikum’s head, close to the
end of a show, witnesses watched in horror as the orca suddenly lunged at her violently.
Brancheau was dragged underwater and promptly drowned. Tilikum refused to let go of her
corpse, even as other employees tried to offer him food and threw nets into the water. Bones
in her jaw, ribs, and vertebra were shattered, her spinal cord was severed, and her scalp
was ripped off. Brancheau also presented elbow and knee dislocations. For 45 minutes, Tilikum
kept her body underwater until he was finally guided towards a smaller pool. Due to this
incident, trainers were forbidden from entering the water with any orcas. SeaWorld attempted
to lift this prohibition, but the Occupational Safety and Health Administration intervened,
making it a standard for the industry.
Thanks for watching! Would you rather swim with an orca or coat yourself in honey and
spend an entire life in the African tundra? Let us know in the comments section below!