Heart-stopping Video Shows Dolphin Attacking Trainer During A Seaquarium Show

A seaquarium show in Miami, US, didn't exactly go to plan after a dolphin attacked a trainer as the horrified crowd watched on.

The incident took place on Saturday, April 9, at the Miami Seaquarium. One of the dolphins, named Sundance, suddenly went rogue, in front of young children and families during the Flipper show.

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In the hair-raising footage, the dolphin can be seen lunging at a trainer swimming in the water, as two other performers race out of the pool. Sundance lunges two more times, pushing the woman back as she tries to swim to the pool's edge.

The audience can be heard breathing a sigh of relief as the the trainer managed to pull herself out of the water.

"You could tell she was in some type of pain. The kids were cheering and thinking this was neat. You could tell the adults knew something was wrong," Shannon Carpenter, who filmed the incident, told WPLG Local 10.

The trainer was reportedly taken to an area hospital after the attack, the outlet reported.

The is the latest in a string of incidents at Miami Seaquarium, which is currently under the microscope by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) investigators.

Last year in June, the USDA issued a 17-page report citing numerous serious animal welfare violations at the Seaquarium, including feeding rotten fish to animals, dolphins dying and neglecting their welfare in general.

Representational Image/Pixabay

Animal welfare group PETA responded to the incident with a statement that read:

¡°Time is up at Miami Seaquarium, where long-suffering dolphins desperately need protection and workers are at risk. PETA urges this abusement park to end its exploitation of dolphins by getting them into sanctuaries as quickly as possible, where they¡¯d never be used in tawdry shows again and no-one else will get hurt.¡±

In a statement, the Seaquarium claimed that the dolphin and trainer ¡°accidentally collided in the water on Saturday while performing a routine behaviour as part of the Flipper show.¡±

¡°This was an uncomfortable interaction for both of them and the dolphin reacted by breaking away from the routine and striking the trainer. As a precaution, Miami-Dade County safety authorities were contacted. Our family extends to include the animals in our care, our team members and our guests. While there is no apparent serious injury, a careful watch and follow-up evaluations will ensure the best care for all," they added.

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