Dawn Brancheau

Dawn Therese Brancheau (née LoVerde, April 16, 1969 – February 24, 2010) was an American senior animal trainer at SeaWorld. She worked with orcas at SeaWorld Orlando for fifteen years, including a leading role in revamping the Shamu show, and was SeaWorld's poster girl.^[1]

Dawn Brancheau
Dawn Brancheau at the Believe show, at SeaWorld, Orlando, Florida, in 2006
Born	Dawn Therese LoVerde April 16, 1969 Cedar Lake, Indiana, U.S.
Died	February 24, 2010 (aged 40) Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Cause of death	Drowning and blunt-force trauma
Resting place	Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Worth Township, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation	SeaWorld trainer
Years active	1994–2010
Spouse	Scott Brancheau ​ ​ (m. 1996⁠–⁠2010)​
Parent(s)	Marion LoVerde Charles LoVerde

Brancheau was killed by an orca, Tilikum, becoming the only SeaWorld trainer killed by an animal. However, her death was the third fatality associated with Tilikum, and many other trainers have been seriously injured by orcas.^[2]