Updated at 9:05 a.m., Saturday, March 3, 2007
SeaWorld killer-whale attack report rescinded
Associated Press
SAN DIEGO — California's workplace safety office rescinded a report issued earlier this week on a whale attack at SeaWorld Adventure Park, agreeing with SeaWorld officials' claims that the office was unsuited to recommend changes in how to deal with whales.The workplace safety office apologized Friday for suggesting in the report that it was only a matter of time before a trainer was killed. It said its investigation of the Nov. 29 incident required expertise it does not have, and promised a thorough review of its own account of the attack.
Trainer Kenneth Peters, 39, was bit and held underwater several times by a 7,000-pound killer whale during a show at Shamu Stadium. He escaped with a broken foot and was hospitalized for three days.
SeaWorld disagreed with the workplace safety office's findings in a report issued Tuesday that a trainer's death was inevitable.
After two days of discussions with SeaWorld officials, the workplace safety office said it was withdrawing its recommendations — including a suggestion that lethal force should be used to save a trainer's life — because SeaWorld did not violate safety standards. It said parts of its report "stray from describing the evidence and are clearly inappropriate."
SeaWorld said it was pleased with Cal/OSHA's reversal. It said the report was "riddled with inaccuracies" and reflected a lack of understanding of marine mammal life.
