SeaWorld killer whale 'bit off swimmer's penis & held him underwater until he drowned' in horrifying attack

A SEAWORLD killer whale flake off a swimmer's penis and allegedly held him underwater until he drowned in a horrifying assault.

Daniel Dukes snuck past security and made his was into Tilikum'due south tank at the SeaWorld park in Florida where he was found mauled to expiry.

Tilikum was responsible for three human deaths — Tilikum was responsible for three human being deaths Credit: Alamy

Daniel Dukes was found drowned in Tilikum's tank in 1999 — Daniel Dukes was institute drowned in Tilikum's tank in 1999 Credit: Fox News

The 27-year-old made his way into the Orca's tank — The 27-twelvemonth-old made his way into the Orca'southward tank Credit: Twitter

Tilikum, an orca that died in 2017, was responsible for at to the lowest degree three human deaths in his lifetime.

Dukes' autopsy found the 27-twelvemonth-old out-of-stater had his scrotum gnawed off by Tilikum after being dragged downwards and held underwater by the powerful animate being.

He allegedly waited until after closing in July 1999, at which fourth dimension he stripped his dress off to reveal swim trunks, and climbed into the colossal 11,000-pound whale's tank.

Horrified SeaWorld employees and trainers found the mauled man the next forenoon.

A wrongful death lawsuit was filed by Dukes' parents, Michael and Patricia Dukes but they withdrew the example a few weeks later.

But the park blamed Dukes for his own expiry, which they said was the event of a break in and his unsupervised swim with Tilikum.

And the park has ever maintained Dukes died from "accidental drowning" and dismissed the incident as an example of assailment.

At that time, Dukes' death was the second involving Tilikum.

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The park also defends their welfare record with the orcas - saying they received "world-class care".

Ric O'Barry, a marine mammal trainer who defended his life to releasing captured dolphins back into the wild, said Dukes was likely pulled downwardly into the water by Tilikum, who killed him out of "boredom".

He said the marine theme park industry was 'poorly regulated' and said SeaWorld had bought Tilikum for convenance purposes, according to Orlando Weekly.

He went into the h2o; I retrieve the whale probably pulled him down, held him underwater. I don't call back they know how oft nosotros breathe.

Ric O'Barry - marine mammal trainer

The experienced marine trainer said the nature of the animal'south captivity made SeaWorld's orcas much more than dangerous than they would be if they lived in the wild.

"The thing about orcas -- it's probably the only animal in the world that when they're built-in they volition stay with their female parent for their whole life fourth dimension," he said.

"The commencement thing SeaWorld does is separate them from their family. That manifestly causes frustration.

"Then they put them in these concrete boxes."

'PSYCHOTIC' OCRA

O'Barry reckons Dukes was "fascinated" with Tilikum and broke in to swim with him.

"He went into the h2o; I call up the whale probably pulled him down, held him underwater. I don't recall they know how often we breathe."

He said that was the problem with whales that have zip improve to exercise.

"They're bored," he explained. "Nosotros literally bore them to expiry. It's similar you lot living in the bathroom for your life."

Sadly, for Dukes' parents, cops wound up their investigation within 3 weeks and said their son had died as a event of poor judgement.

The Orange State Sheriff's Office (OSCO) and media at the time blamed the death on Dukes, who they painted as a "marijuana-smoking out-of-stater from South Carolina with a string of petty arrests".

Written testimonies provided to the OSCO by SeaWorld staff who had observed Dukes on the mean solar day before his death alluded to his "attire and lack of personal hygiene".

Visitors said Dukes was "mumbling to himself... [and] looked muddied and has a foul aroma," according to the Dolphin Project.

At i indicate Dukes was seen "wandering around the forepart gate plaza glaring suspiciously at young girls".

In 1991, Tilikum was involved in another drowning decease of a trainer at a park in Canada.

Marine biological science student Keltie Byrne was working office-time at Sealand of the Pacific in Canada when she was ripped apart in front of horrified onlookers.

She had slipped into the puddle past accident and witnesses said Tilikum grabbed her while two other orcas prevented park staff from reaching Keltie.

Several hours passed before Keltie'south trunk could be recovered.

Presently afterwards the incident, the whale was sold to SeaWorld.

In 2010, Dawn Brancheau was dragged into the water by the orca during a mail service-show routine.

The woman aptitude over the tank'south edge to rub Tilikum when his behavior suddenly changed and he pulled her into the water by her ponytail.

Harrowing scenes saw Dawn shaken and thrown about as terrified guests were aimlessly ushered out by staff.

According to reports, the 40-year-erstwhile was scalped and had her arm bitten off during the assail.

KILLING SPREE

Dawn's shocking death made headlines effectually the earth, calling into question how ethical keeping whales in captivity is - with much speculation focused on Tilikum's treatment and life.

Many experts and one-time trainers believe Tilikum turned serial killer purely as a result of his traumatic time in captivity, with the landmark 2013 documentary Blackfish shining a calorie-free on longstanding concerns.

Tilikum died in 2017 after facing serious wellness issues, including a persistent and complicated bacterial lung infection.

His death came just a year after SeaWorld announced they were ending their breeding program following years of campaigners railing against them.

A SeaWorld spokesperson previously said: "Trainers have non been in the water training or performing with killer whales at SeaWorld since 2010.

"There have been no incidents equally described in this article since these changes were made more a decade ago.

"Our hundreds of veterinarians and care specialists provide world-class medical care.

"None of the killer whales in our care alive a lone life and they participate in positive reinforcement sessions daily, engaging in a range of different activities to ensure they receive plenty of concrete and mental exercise.

"Additionally, the study of orcas in our care by our scientists and third-party organisations has directly informed the globe'southward knowledge of and ability to protect whales in the wild."

The Sun has reached out to SeaWorld for further comment.