Keto himself has fathered several calves during his time as one of the main attractions at Loro Parque in the Spanish resort, several of whom have come to tragic ends. It asserts that the only preventive action is a simple one: prohibition of the activity.[1]. Alexis and Keto were working on the Christmas show in a training pool and at first, everything seemed normal - but then the giant orca started to behave strangely. But when Keto, a 6,600lb male, turned on him, he could offer little in the way of a defence. He was described as "handsome, generous, and funny" by his partner Estefana Luis Rodriguez. The fellow trainer then instructed Alexis to swim slowly to another pool while he gave the killer whale a hand target. Get the latest stories and incredible features in your inbox every day by signing up HERE for The Mirror's daily newsletter. Tilikum died in 2017 after seeing out his days in a pool away from public viewing. 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In the wild, there are no documented cases of fatal #orca attacks on humans. But on Christmas Eve, 2009, Keto reacted in a. Tilikum didn't just kill his trainer, the attack was prolonged and incredibly violent. TikTok video from Dolphin Project (@dolphin_project): "In 2009, Keto took trainer Alexis Martnez's life. The animal in question moved towards him and hit him and violently played with his body. SeaWorld temporarily suspended waterwork in all of its parks following his death, as did Loro Parque. The park has the world's largest indoor penguin exhibition and the longest shark tunnel in Europe and is one of only two parks in Europe to house killer whales. Those who worked with her said their bond was strong and based on love and trust. But the park, which has a controversial history with its killer whales, insisted that the video shows a normal interaction between the two animals. "La orca "Keto" s atac y caus la muerte de Alexis, el adiestrador del Loro Parque", "Uno de los responsables de las orcas reconoce la "agresin" de "Tekoa" en 2007", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Death_of_Alexis_Martnez&oldid=1142284921, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 15:23. On October 6 2007, an apprentice trainer called Claudia Vollhardt was also attacked and nearly killed by the orca Tekoa. On one occasion, he rammed Tekoa, leaving him bleeding, and on another he bit Kohana's dorsal fin. He said Brian had a small incident with Keto the first hour of the morning, adding that it was a very bad day for Keto. She was lying with her face next to Tilikum's - the orca she had spent countless hours with and who had always treated her as a trusted companion. Keto pulled Alexis under water and then rammed him in his chest. The movie also mentions two examples from San Diego, including a trainer who was held under water in 2006 and another who was seriously injured after a whale landed on him when it was doing a trick. Initially it was claimed she had been pulled into the pool by her ponytail, but there were later suggestions Tilikum had grabbed her by her shoulder. In a cruel twist of fate, it later emerged Alexis had documented his concerns over the killer whales in his diary. 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Mr. Rokeach entered the stage pool and retrieved Alexis' body from the bottom. Other Loro Parque employees eventually managed to direct the gigantic orca into another pool, before retrieving his trainer's body. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Horrifically, her spinal cord was severed, while she also suffered from broken ribs, a broken jaw and a post-mortem revealed she died from both drowning and blunt force injury. But the autopsy report told a different story, describing a violent attack. SeaWorld temporarily suspended waterwork in all of its parks following his death, as did Loro Parque. Keto immediately after taking a breath returned to [Alexis] and then resurfaced near stage with [Alexis] on his rostrum and with his mouth closed. But Alexis' employers initially characterised the death as an "accident", insisting his pummelled body showed no signs of violence. Do you think orcas should be kept in captivity? Alexis joined the orca in the pool while another trainer, Brian Rokeach, positioned himself on the stage, while several other members of staff mulled around. The 29-year-old had worked with orcas for several years and was used to handling the gigantic beasts. There are reports that he would spend hours on end just lying on the surface of the water. Alexis was working with Keto, a captive killer whale owned by SeaWorld, when he was dragged underwater and drowned. The park has however defended their handling of his death and insisted an incorrect information shared can "fairly be attributed to the nature of an emergency response". Keto responded and was received at stage by Brian. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Dawn's shocking death made headlines around the world, calling into question how ethical keeping whales in captivity is - with much speculation focused on Tilikum's treatment and life. Keto the orca was born in captivity and appeared at water parks in water parks in San Diego, Ohio, Texas and the Canary Islands, but in 2009 he attacked his trainer Alexis Martnez In one entry, he wrote: Keto is obsessed with controlling Kohana, he wont separate from her, including shows. Just two months after his horror death, devoted killer whale trainer Dawn Brancheau was dragged into the water by an orca during a post-show routine. The 14-year-old killer whale was then rewarded with two handfuls of fish after he obeyed the commands of another trainer. Alexis has told his girlfriend he was exhausted due to the stress of working with the orcas and the pressure of the upcoming Christmas show, reported journalist Tim Zimmermann. "He had a great relationship with her, and she had a great relationship with him. In 2009, a killer whale trainer at Loro Parque was killed in an attack by a male orca called Keto. On Christmas Eve, 2009, trainer Alexis Martnez was attacked and killed by orca, Keto, at Loro Parque in Tenerife - the whale had spent the whole of his life in captivity By Jane Lavender. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. [3], In 2004 and 2005, before the first four orcas were brought to Loro Parque, eight animal trainers from the park were sent to SeaWorld parks in Texas and Florida for training. Keto is sexual with Tekoa.. "With everything that is going on, something could happen at any time.". This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. But on Christmas Eve, 2009, Keto reacted in a way that had never been seen by his trainers before - and Alexis paid the ultimate price. But, then on Christmas Eve, 2009, the huge orca reacted in a way that had never been seen by his trainers before - and Alexis paid the ultimate price. On Christmas Eve 2009, trainer Alexis Martinez, 29, was taking part in preparations for a special performance planned for the New Year. Brian observed the intensity of the situation and decided to initiate a hand slap. one of Loro Parque's captive orcas | TW: animals in distress | Orcas and other dolphins don't belong in captivity | . "My job is especially risky, and I really need to be well rested and ready," Alexis told his girlfriend Estefana. The orca took a quick breath before returning to Alexis. The 17-foot orca that attacked him was the dominant female of SeaWorld San Diego's seven killer whales. He had performed in parks in the US before before moved to Tenerife in 2006. And the trainer, 29, felt all was not well at the exhibit he worked at, Orca Ocean. All four orcas were bred in captivity and with no mature or dominant female to establish order, the social dynamics were tricky. During a training session, Keto pulled Alexis under water and then rammed him in his chest. Something went wrong, please try again later. During a morning session on December 24, according to a corporate incident report, Keto "appeared in a good mood". Tourists could watch the action as they ate and Dawn had climbed out of the pool. According to Outside Magazine, the corporate incident report said Keto "appeared in a good mood" on the day of the fatal assault and was in good form during swim sessions. Another trainer used controls that had always worked with the killer whales, but Keto refused to respond and pushed Alexis to the bottom of the pool using his rostrum, or the tip of his snout of beak. A further seven trainers were also present in the pool. Alexis Martinez was running through a performance with a 6,600lb killer whale called Keto when the enormous creature turned on him, launching a brutal attack in front of the 29-year-old's fellow trainers, Don't miss a thing! Brian tapped the bucket, then hand slapped again. He died of massive internal bleeding and injuries. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use'. An autopsy report later found that Keto had slammed into Alexis with such force that it caused his chest to cave in. Horrifyingly, just three years after his final move, Keto carried out a bloody and sustained attack on one of his trainers, Alexis Martnez. Keto was flown to Tenerife from the US with three other SeaWorld orcas - Tekoa, a male, and females, Kohana and Skyla. (Exh. The killer whale then hurtled towards Alexis, forcing him underneath the water with his huge beak for several minutes. Since Martinezs death, the trainers do not enter the water with the whales. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. The park insisted that claims the female orca shown in the video is suffering from a panic attack are 'completely incorrect and malicious', On October 6 2007, an apprentice trainer called Claudia Vollhardt was also attacked and nearly killed by the orca Tekoa - the second whale featured in the video clip. He had suffered horrific injuries, including massive internal bleeding, and nothing could be done to save the 29-year-old. For his whole life Keto has never been able to swim in the open ocean - instead he is confined to a swimming pool where he spends his days entertaining crowds of tourists. This video tells the heartbreaking story of Alexis Martinez, an experienced orca trainer who lost his life in a tragic incident at Loro Parque's Orca Ocean. When she graduated, she spent two years working with dolphins at an attraction in New Jersey before landing her job at Seaworld. He had a nagging feeling that "something could happen at any time," she said. Alexis attempted a stand-on spy hop, a move where the trainer stands on the killer whale's rostrum, or the tip of its beak, as it rises up and out of the water. Keto had in fact caused catastrophic internal bleeding. The troubled action hero: Tom Sizemore boasted of affairs with Liz Hurley and Paris Hilton (which he had to Will Vladimir Putin's empress pay the ultimate price for his war on the West? His life came to a gruesome end following a brutal attack by Keto - which was dismissed as an "unfortunate accident". When [Alexis] commenced swimming (sculling) Keto began leaning toward him. Russian dictator, 70, ANDREW NEIL: What's REALLY going on in Boris Johnson's head - and why I'd advise Rishi Sunak to sleep with Find out what Uber drivers really think of you! Tourists could watch the action as they ate and Dawn had climbed out of the pool. He wrote how Keto had displayed "controlling" behaviour with the three orcas - Tekoa, a male, and females, Kohana and Skyla - he had arrived from SeaWorld with. His colleague Brian suggested that Keto did not appear "committed to remaining under control" and looked "a little big-eyed". A hopeful Alexis then opted to attempt a haul-down into stage haul-out - meaning he would ride the orca down into the pool and up onto the stage. He was killed during a Christmas show rehearsal when he was attacked by one of the orcas, Keto. He had suffered horrific injuries, including massive internal bleeding, and nothing could be done to save him. Suddenly, Dawn was dragged into the water. Alexis had started his career in 2004 when he bagged a job at Loro Parque in Tenerife - one of only two parks in Europe to house killer whales. Brian instructed [Alexis] to swim out (toward the slideover). It now works with the Humane Society of the United States to work against commercial whaling and seal hunts, and also campaigns against shark finning and ocean pollution and has switched its focus to rescue operations. It seemed to work and the orca returned to the surface of the pool and took a breath - but within seconds he dived back down to Alexis. Brian attempted another hand target but Keto left control and engaged [Alexis] by pushing him to the bottom with his rostrum. And the trainer, 29, felt all was not well at the exhibit he worked at, Orca Ocean. Both an autopsy report and a confidential corporate incident report suggest Alexis met a particularly grisly end following a brutal attack by Keto rather than an "unfortunate accident". Constance Marten seen leaving court after appearing before magistrates charged with manslaughter of baby, Constance Marten and Mark Gordon blow each other a kiss in dock before court hears dead baby was found in bag in shed, Mum identified after dead baby is found on Canford Heath, devoted killer whale trainer Dawn Brancheau was dragged into the water, pulled her into the water by her ponytail, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). The report describes multiple cuts and bruises, the collapse of both lungs, fractured ribs and sternum, a lacerated liver, severely damaged vital organs, and puncture marks "consistent with the teeth of an orca". It seemed to work and the orca returned to the surface of the pool and took a breath - but within seconds he dived back down to Alexis. Brian again gave the orca a hand target, but this time it was ignored. Despite his skill, years of experience and intuition in dealing with the enormous creatures, he was no match for the beast. But Alexis' employers initially characterised the death as an "accident", insisting his pummelled body showed no signs of violence. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. [2] : Tr. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Trainer Alexis Martinez, 29, was killed by 6,000lb killer whale Keto in 2009, The animal lover's chest was crushed by the orca during a training session, Alexis with Dawn Brancheau - who was killed by an orca just two months later at SeaWorld, How SeaWorld orca Keto brutally killed trainer ripping organs & crushing him before playing with his body, Headteacher sacked 'after sending parents a list of striking teachers' as school launches probe, Isle of Innisfree ferry: Blaze breaks out on boat carrying 183 people in English Channel as lifeboats scramble to scene. Instead the attraction now works with the Humane Society of the United States to work against commercial whaling and seal hunts. Something went wrong, please try again later. Mr. Rokeach and the Loro Parque trainers were eventually able to get Keto to enter another pool, where Keto could be isolated while Alexis body was recovered. He wrote how Keto had displayed "controlling" behaviour with the three orcas - Tekoa, a male, and females, Kohana and Skyla - he had arrived from SeaWorld with. The trainer responded with a reinforcing scenario, giving a neutral reaction and withholding the reward, according to the report. The trainers are wearing red and black suits, I thought Dawn and the trainers nearby her were wearing white and black suits when she died. Other investigations later revealed the killer orca had rammed Tekeoa on one occasion, leaving him bleeding.