ORLANDO, Fla. – The former head of training at SeaWorld Orlando says a trainer drowned by a killer whale broke with rules that had been in place for handling the giant animal.

Thad Lacinak (luh-SIN'ik) said Friday either the rules for working with the 12,000--pound orca have changed since he left the park in 2008 or trainer Dawn Brancheau (bran-CHOH') had not observed them.

Lacinak told The Associated Press he was told by trainers at the scene that Brancheau was lying on a shelf in shallow water next to the killer whale, who was in deep water. He said her ponytail drifted in front of the animal, which grabbed it and dragged her under.

Lacinak said previous protocol would have prohibited a trainer from lying down that close to this specific animal, because of its connection to two past deaths.

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