Autopsy: SeaWorld Trainer Died of Trauma, Drowning

Veteran SeaWorld Orlando trainer Dawn Brancheau is shown in an undated file picture with an unidentified killer whale. Brancheau died February 24, 2010 in an incident with a large killer whale at the theme park in Orlando, Fla. (Reuters).

ORLANDO, Fla. -- An autopsy shows that a SeaWorld Orlando trainer attacked by a killer whale died of drowning and blunt-force trauma to her head, neck and torso.

The autopsy report released Wednesday lists Dawn Brancheau's official cause of death as drowning and traumatic injuries. The medical examiner's office ruled her death an accident. Toxicology tests found no drugs in her system.

A killer whale named Tilikum snatched the 40-year-old trainer from a poolside platform in its jaws and thrashed her around underwater, killing her in front of a horrified audience in February.

It marked the third time the whale had been involved in a death.

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