Crowd of 5,000 Help Welcome Mom Home From Afghanistan

Military mom surprises son at Sea World after tour in Afghanistan
NBC TODAY
Alexandra Zaslow
4 hours ago

Aiden Rodriguez has seen the Shamu show at Sea World a handful of times, but the most recent far surpassed the rest.

The 6-year-old boy's mom, Tech. Sgt. Aixa Rodriguez, returned from serving her first term in Afghanistan earlier than expected and had 5,000 people there to welcome her home.

"I thought I was picking her up from the airport on Monday, but she tricked me!" Aiden told icFlorida.

Sgt. Rodriguez was feeling nervous backstage, but after they announced her name and she started to walk toward her son, all of the nerves escaped her and she focused on giving Aiden the hug he's been waiting for.
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Returning soldier reunited with daughter at SeaWorld

Returning soldier reunited with daughter at SeaWorld
By Bakari Savage, Reporter
Friday, August 03, 2012
ORANGE COUNTY

A returning soldier surprises his young daughter by coming home after a year-long deployment.

Spc. Eric Espinosa and his wife teamed up with SeaWorld to make it happen, and we were there to capture it on camera.

Four-year-old Alexis was inside of SeaWorld’s Shamu Stadium. She thought she was there just to see another Shamu show and has no idea her dad was waiting to meet her here.

“Saying bye is the hardest thing," said Leah Espinosa, the returning soldier's wife.

"You know where he’s going and you worry every day. But, as soon as I saw him, everything went away.”
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Visitor to SeaWorld water park in
Florida found dead

From John Couwels, CNN

October 4, 2010

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Unresponsive man was pulled from a pool, pronounced dead at a hospital
Sheriff's Office is investigating the death by interviewing witnesses, victim's family
Autopsy to be performed on 68-year-old man, sheriff says


(CNN) -- A guest at SeaWorld's water park Aquatica in Orlando, Florida, was pulled from a pool and later pronounced dead over the weekend, park officials said.
A lifeguard found a 68-year-old international visitor unresponsive Saturday morning in the park's Roa's Rapids, a SeaWorld spokesman said.
Visitor to SeaWorld water park in Florida found dead

Whale grabbed ponytail, pulled trainer into tank

Whale grabbed ponytail, pulled trainer into tank, SeaWorld says
February 25, 2010 10:29 a.m. EST

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: Whale shows canceled Thursday at SeaWorld
Trainer Dawn Brancheau, 40, fatally injured by killer whale at SeaWorld Orlando
The whale, Tillikum, has been linked to two other deaths
Incident already has sparked debate about keeping killer whales in captivity to perform

(CNN) -- Whale shows at SeaWorld were canceled Thursday, and officials were re-evaluating safety procedures a day after a 12,000 pound killer whale grabbed a trainer's ponytail, dragged her under water and killed her in front of shocked onlookers at Shamu Stadium.

Dawn Brancheau, 40, was "pulled underwater for an extended period of time," by the whale, Chuck Tompkins, SeaWorld's curator of zoological operations, told CNN's "American Morning." He said he had no further information on the exact cause of Brancheau's death, citing an ongoing investigation.

The incident occurred about 2 p.m. Wednesday. Tompkins said the whale, named Tillikum, had just finished a session with Brancheau, who was standing by the side of his pool and leaning over the whale, rubbing his head.

"She had a long ponytail that brushed in front of her and apparently got in front of his nose," Tompkins said. "He probably felt it." Tillikum grabbed the ponytail and pulled Brancheau into the water, he said.

Earlier accounts varied on how Brancheau ended up in the tank.
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Whale grabbed ponytail, pulled trainer into tank

SeaWorld trainer killed by killer whale

SeaWorld trainer killed by killer whale
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Incident occurred at Orlando, Florida, attraction
Trainer pronounced dead at scene
Spokeswoman says it didn't happen during performance


(CNN) -- A killer whale killed a trainer Wednesday afternoon at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, a spokesman for the Orange County Fire Department said.

The spokesman, John Mulhall, said the trainer was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident did not occur during a performance, said a spokeswoman for SeaWorld, who added that more information was to be released soon.

Victoria Biniak told CNN affiliate WKMG that she saw the deadly incident from a viewing area.
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SeaWorld trainer killed by killer whale

Iraq vet honored at service-dog fundraiser

Iraq vet honored at service-dog fundraiser
Kate Santich Sentinel Staff Writer
November 7, 2008
ORLANDO - Almost four years to the day after losing his leg to a bomb in Iraq, 1st Lt. Jeffrey Adams will be guest of honor at the Canine Companions for Independence 12th annual Tales and Tails Gala on Saturday at SeaWorld Orlando. Adams, the first Iraq war veteran helped by the nonprofit organization, graduated from training in February and will attend with his service dog, Sharif.