Whale Kills Trainer at Sea World

A Sea World killer whale snatched a trainer from a poolside platform today and thrashed the trainer around underwater, killing her in front of a horrified audience. It marked the third time the animal had been involved in a human death. Distraught audience members were hustled out of the stadium immediately, and part of the park was closed. Trainer Dawn Brancheau, 40, was rubbing Tilikum after a noontime show when the 12,000-pound whale grabbed her and pulled her in, said Chuck Tompkins, head of anima