Loro Parque trainer died from asphyxia caused by compression of the chest in rough play
December 31st, 2009
A Loro Parque press release says that it believes Alexis died as a result of asphyxia caused by compression of the chest. It seems that although they were training for a new Christmas special, the actual exercise in which the accident occurred was one that had been performed daily for the last three years, and involved both whale and trainer submerging together to gain speed to be propelled to the side of the pool side by side.
The whale, Keto, 14 years old and born in captivity in the USA, is said to be the largest and most experienced of the cetaceans at Loro Parque. On this occasion, however, he reacted unexpectedly and Alexis was pushed out of the way. Some sources have been saying that Keto was known to “play rough”, and had been known to challenge older whales. As such, he was not considered completely predictable, but on the other hand, Alexis himself was one of the most experienced trainers in Loro Parque, and it has been stressed repeatedly that Keto’s behaviour was not an attack. La Opinion
Originally Posted 24 December: A Loro Parque trainer has been accidentally killed by one of the whales during the first training session for a Christmas spectacular. The trainer was 29-year-old Alexis Martínez from Puerto de la Cruz, and the accident occurred at 10.30 am this morning. The other 7 trainers were also present in the training session. As far as can be determined at present, Alexis was hit by the whale, and his death was caused by drowning after being under water for several minutes before he was rescued.
He was immediately assisted by the specialist personnel at Loro Parque while Emergency Services were called, and amidst resuscitation attempts, was transferred to the Bell Vue Clinic by ambulance, where he was admitted with cardiac arrest. Obviously, an autopsy will be needed before the precise cause of death can be confirmed.
The news has distressed Loro Parque staff immensely, and the planned Orca show has been suspended for the moment. Alexis had worked at the Parque since 2004, where he was dearly loved by colleagues. Canarias24Horas
The trainer was Alexis Martínez, and the accident occurred, as said above, during the first training session for the Christmas Special planned for the New Year. The other 7 trainers were also present in the training session. As far as can be determined right now, Alexis was hit by the whale, and his death was caused by drowning because he was under the water for several minutes before he could be rescued.
He was immediately assisted by the specialist personnel at Loro Parque and Emergency Services were called immediately. Amidst resuscitation attempts, he was transferred to the Bell Vue Clinic by ambulance, where he was admitted with cardiac arrest. Obviously, an autopsy will be needed before the precise cause of death can be confirmed.
The news has distressed Loro Parque staff immensely, and the planned Orca show has been suspended for the moment. Alexis had worked at the Parque since 2004, where he was dearly loved by colleagues.
70 Responses to “Loro Parque trainer died from asphyxia caused by compression of the chest in rough play ”
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Emily’s response there just sums up all the anti-captivity fanatics on this post-selective hearing, the equivalent of sticking your fingers in your ears and shouting “LA LA LA” at the things you don’t want to hear or rather the FACTS that don’t support your OPINION. You think you have the moral high ground and speak the truth about this issue when all you can say is, “you can’t prove you’re trainers, so you’re not”, I could say “you can’t prove these orcas don’t prefer these tanks, so they do”
Yer im sure they’d prefer to be in a concrete tank, and get slaved to do shows everyday rather than have a whole ocean to swim in and do what ever they feel like, shut up Emily, its wrong.
No wait Emily, is right Ash should shut up.
Ha way to prove that you’re the intelligent one here
Also why are you under the impression they are “slaved” to do these shows? They are asked to do behaviours in return for a reward, they are quite pleasantly offered a bribe, not blackmailed or as you put it “slaved”
These parks are not safe havens for these creatures. They are artificial environments created by corporations who care about 1 thing. Money. Go out and rent “The Cove” it shows exactly the sort of operations these places are. They are not saving these whales, they are exploiting them for a profit. Period.
AMEN….
iv got to be honest i was quite shocked when i read this, you can clearly tell it was an accident, iv seen how these people work with orcas and dolphins they are very much dedicated to the animals as the animals are to them its not as if they just go out to sea and pick a couple and put them in captivaty they are rescued if a whale was not happy and wanted to attack and didnt want to do what the trainer wanted to do it wouldnt they would show there un happy!!! its a very sad thing what happened to this man its not the whales fault or the trainers its just a freak accident .
The cove, whilst raising a very valid point about the plight of the dolphins in Taiji, when it comes to the training element of the documentary is just Ric O’Barry, a man as hated as PETA (and if you stick up for PETA then you don’t have any valid opinion on animal welfare), spouting his own guilty conscience because one of the animals he cared for committed suicide, do you see many seaworld orcas committing suicide? How about the fact that it may be Ric O’Barry that was at fault, not captivity itself…
Also, Sarah Mearns is correct, we should not be debating captivity on a post about a man’s tragic, ACCIDENTAL death. We should pay our respects and not slander his memory
these orcas are slaves the poor animals are starved if they dont do the so called trick they don’t get fed there also going isane by attacking each other and attacking humans which they would not be doing in the wild. and they kill themselfs. for this happening i blame the people not the orca if he was free he would not have done this.
ha omg you people are retarded, do some research before you make up this crap, none of the orcas are starved they are fed regardless of doing the behaviour, if they are full they are rewarded for behaviours with ice, water hose sprays amongst other things, so they can actually get full not starved, they on rare occasions attack trainers as they are still predators, no other reason, they just have off days, same goes for the VERY RARE occasions when they attack each other, and they never, NEVER kill themselves. You say the orca wouldn’t have done this if he was free, well yeah, because he wouldn’t have been near people… not for any other reason such as the hatred you claim he has for people which they clearly don’t as they have a very special bond with their trainers, or they wouldn’t let them sit on their backs for long periods of time. Seriously do some research or don’t comment.
This was such a terrible accident and I believe that this is all it was.
However I don’t agree with keeping orcas or dolphins in captivity and doing shows.
I would never and have never taken my 10 yr old daughter to see any of these shows.
She has seen whales and dolphins in the wild on boat trips and I would rather her see them in their habitat not one that has been made for them and not doing tricks but just living among their own kind.
To me it just seems wrong to keep such a beautiful intelligent animal in a small enclose for us to look at.
I do not know all the facts on keeping them in captivity, it is just my opinion.
My condolences to all Alexis family and friends, I’m sure he was a great trainer and cared for the animals. It is a great shame that this accident happened.
Selina, I completely respect everything you have just said, thank you for finally giving a respectable, non-fallacious perspective from someone who is anti-captivity.
[...] last night, and will be cruising around California with T&C Team Manager Paul Pasa for the nLoro Parque trainer died from asphyxia caused by compression …A Loro Parque press release says that it believes Alexis died as a result of asphyxia caused by [...]
Ummm…once again, if you knew the people in that article like some of us do, you’d have a different opinion. Funny how once people burn bridges, bungle and then abandon research projects, and can’t get a job in the field anymore, turn into anti-captivity activists. The woods are full of them….
[...] died in late December after having his chest severely compressed by a different whale “not considered completely predictable” who was known to “play [...]
i cannot believe what some of you lot have been saying. first of all my condolences to all the family who have lost a loved one.
i would just like to say it might not be an ideal environment for these animals but they are much better off in a place like this as what happens in their own environment? they are killed or suffocate. if they were in that much pain or didnt like it, it wouldnt have been one trainer that has tragically died. they would kill and attack all of the trainers. have any of you actually been there? no i bet you havent. i have been several times and before the orcas even went there. these people/trainers are lovely. they made their best efforts to get this place set up right for the orcas. if they were treated so badly like one of you lot said being starved for not doing something correct then im sure this would have been promoted by the press as they would have died dont you think? you people that have been talking badly about the trainers dont know a thing.
I have just came back from a visit at this Loro Parque and noticed that big whales fin was really collapased, thats all I could look at thru the show !!!!!
Quite sad….
STACY, if you were listening to the show you would know that a male whale fin is very heavy and unless the whale spends a very long time at deep depths it bends over