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I took my son to SeaWorld as a birthday surprise but he saw an Orca KILL a trainer – trauma left him in need of TREATMENT

A CHILDREN boy brought to SeaWorld by his mother as a birthday surprise, ends up witnessing an Orca brutally killing a trainer right in front of his eyes.

The experience sends 10-year-old Bobby Connell into therapy and has nightmares after witnessing the death of Dawn Brancheau.

Dawn Brancheau captured the moments before she was killed by Tilikum

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Dawn Brancheau captured the moments before she was killed by Tilikum
Suzanne Connell with her son Bobby, who she says needs therapy

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Suzanne Connell with her son Bobby, who she says needs therapy
Tilikum is a giant whale that experts say has been 'psychotic' due to being kept in captivity

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Tilikum is a giant whale that experts say has been ‘psychotic’ due to being kept in captivityCredit: Alamy
Dawn performing with Orca in front of tourists before passing away

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Dawn performing with Orca in front of tourists before passing away

Dawn was attacked by the infamous killer whale Tilikum after the giant creature dragged her into the water with her hair and brutally beat her to death.

The 40-year-old woman died of drowning with her spinal cord severed and scabbed by the “psychotic” orca, which killed two others during her 30 years in captivity.

Bobby and Suzanne watched Dawn perform with Tilikum shortly before she was killed, along with dad Todd, who shot the haunting final video of the SeaWorld trainer.

In a witness account to investigators, she described seeing Dawn being pulled into the water by her ponytail by Tilikum, who weighed 6 tons and was 22ft long.

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“My son started crying. I was trying to cover my son’s eyes because he was so hysterical and screaming,” she told the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Suzanne described the “look of horror and fear” on Dawn’s face as she was being brutally attacked and, after about 10 minutes, she was “still in the water in the whale’s mouth”.

“My son was playing football at the time and I lost him too,” she said.

The family watched the Lunch with Shamu event at a Florida park, referring to the stage name given to many Orcas by SeaWorld.

On the day of their visit in February 2010, the show was performed by Tilikum.

“I booked this dinner a few months ago as a surprise for my son’s 10th birthday,” Suzanne told OSHA.

Suzanne also told a detective from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office that “her ten-year-old son is currently receiving treatment because he has been traumatized by this experience.”

The family then filed a lawsuit against SeaWorld on the basis of the injuries they allege Bobby suffered.

The lawsuit says Bobby “sees the look of terror and despair on Dawn’s face as she swims for her life”.

Suzanne told CBS news about the influence her son had on witnessing Dawn’s death.

“He has a hard time eating, he spends a lot of time alone, cries a lot, doesn’t want to talk about things, gets angry a lot and has nightmares,” she said.

“It was tough for the whole family but he was really tough.”

However, the case was later dismissed when a judge ruled that it showed how SeaWorld harmed Bobby.

Another visitor in the stands described the horrifying moment she went to photograph an Orca only to find a dead trainer in its mouth.

Dawn’s death has led to major changes at the parks – and now trainers can’t enter tanks with orcas.

Experts believe that Tilikum’s endless years in captivity in the water park left him “psychotic” due to psychological and physical trauma.

Tilikum was separated from his family in the waters off Iceland in 1983 and placed in a concrete tank at a zoo near Reykjavík.

After months of swimming in circles, the orca was transferred to the Sealand of the Pacific Ocean in 1984.

In 1991, Tilikum was still being locked up at Sealand Park in Canada when a young part-timer slipped and fell into the pool.

Viewers watched in horror as Tilikum and his two tankmates repeatedly dragged marine biology student Keltie Byrne underwater.

He violently dragged her around the pool and prevented her from emerging when the 21-year-old was heard saying “I don’t want to die”.

The staff frantically tried to throw her a life ring but she couldn’t reach it because the whales treated her like a “toy”.

During the terrifying 10-minute ordeal, Keltie made it to the surface twice as her haunting scream echoed around the pool.

When she came the third time, she tragically drowned.

Eight years later, Tilikum happened again.

On the morning of July 6, 1999, terrified train commuters found the body of a 27-year-old man on Tilikum’s back.

Daniel Dukes had visited SeaWorld the day before and stayed after the park closed – somehow escaping the watching eyes of security.

In a statement, SeaWorld said in a statement: “This is a retelling of a decades-old event that has nothing to do with how our parks operate today, or have been for years. .

“Our trainers have not been in the water with killer whales in many years, and we have extensive training programs and procedures in place to protect the safety of our trainers, animals and our guests.

“We are both accredited, reviewed, audited and certified by both government agencies and independent animal welfare organizations to maintain the highest standards of animal care.

“Our team of hundreds of animal experts, zoologists, nutritionists, veterinarians and trainers have dedicated their lives to the animals they care for 24×7, 365 day a year.”

Dawn is seen smiling as she performs with Tilikum

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Dawn is seen smiling as she performs with Tilikum
She is an experienced trainer who takes great care of the whales

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She is an experienced trainer who takes great care of the whalesCredit: Orlando Sentinnel
Dawn is remembered for her warm personality

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Dawn is remembered for her warm personalityCredit: Provided

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