SeaWorld's Killer Whale Accidents

OSHA discovered that SeaWorld had a long history of incidents involving its killer whales, many of which were undocumented. Even the company's first orca, Shamu, whose mother was shot and killed with a harpoon right in front of her when captured, was involved in a near-tragic incident. In 1971, the SeaWorld Secretary named Annette Echas was chosen to ride on the back of Shamu for a publicity event. John Sillick survived with broken ribs, a broken pelvis, a shattered femur, and 12 broken vertebrae.