Orca Attack Of Annette Eckis

On April 20, 1971, SeaWorld secretary Annette Eckis was talked into riding the park’s main attraction, a 10-year-old female orca named Shamu (this would be the original Shamu), at the park in San Diego, California, as a publicity stunt. As the ride was coming to an end, Eckis was suddenly thrown off the whale’s back. The orca seized the woman by her leg and began pushing her through the water. Trainers on the side of the tank grabbed the young woman and attempted to pull her out of the water, but the whale again grabbed the woman’s leg and refused to let go. Shamu’s jaws had to be pried apart with a pole in order to free her.[32] Eckis was carried away on a stretcher and required 25 stitches to close the wounds she suffered.[33] Eckis later sued SeaWorld, but a monetary award was overturned on appeal.[34] This event was also documented in the show When Good Pets Go Bad.