Alexis Martinez was a Spanish animal trainer who worked with orcas at Loro Parque’s Orca Ocean in the Canary Islands. He tragically lost his life during a Christmas show rehearsal on December 24, 2009—just two months before the death of Dawn Brancheau, perhaps the most well-known victim of an orca attack at SeaWorld. Initially, the park labeled Martinez’s death as an accident, but the autopsy later revealed fatal injuries caused by the orca’s attack. This incident followed another controversial orca attack at the park two years earlier, which was also claimed to be an accident.

Alexis Martinez and Keto

Alexis Martinez, 29, had worked with orcas for three years at Loro Parque. His partner, Estefanía Luis Rodriguez, described him as “handsome, generous, and funny” and revealed that he had expressed concerns about his work with the orcas just weeks before his death. Martinez had noted that the killer whales were becoming increasingly disobedient, disruptive, and aggressive. Initially, the park claimed his death was an unfortunate accident, stating there were no signs of violence on his body. However, the autopsy revealed more severe injuries, including ripped organs, a crushed chest, and bite marks.

Keto, the male orca involved in the attack, weighed 6,600 lbs and was born in captivity in 1995 at a SeaWorld park. He had never seen the ocean and had performed at SeaWorld parks in Ohio, Texas, and San Diego before being sent to Loro Parque. Keto was one of four orcas sent from SeaWorld on loan to the park.

The Fateful Training Session

Due to his experience, Martinez played a key role in preparing the orcas for the upcoming Christmas show. One of the planned tricks involved a stand-on spy hop, where the trainer balanced on the orca as it rose out of the water. However, during the training, Martinez fell into the water when Keto leaned to one side. As per training protocol, Martinez gave Keto a neutral response and no reward. Soon after, Keto earned a fish reward from another trainer for a different trick.

When Martinez returned to work with Keto, he attempted a move where he would ride the orca into the pool and then slide up onto the stage. However, Keto dived too deep, causing Martinez to swim back on his own. It appeared that Keto was blocking his path to the stage, preventing him from moving forward.

Martinez’s Final Moments

Martinez was then instructed to swim slowly toward another pool while a colleague distracted Keto. However, Keto suddenly charged at Martinez, slamming into him and forcing him underwater. The orca violently toyed with Martinez’s body, causing fatal injuries. Other trainers eventually managed to call Keto into a different pool, allowing them to retrieve Martinez, but by then, it was too late. Tragically, Martinez’s death occurred just months before the fatal attack on Dawn Brancheau at SeaWorld.

The Prior Orca Attack at Loro Parque

In 2007, German trainer Claudia Vollhardt, 29, was hospitalized after an attack by the orca Tekoa at Loro Parque’s Orca Ocean. Vollhardt was rehearsing a trick with Tekoa, where the orca was meant to push her feet with its snout while swimming together. Instead, Tekoa slammed into her from beneath, grabbed her arm in its mouth, and pulled her underwater multiple times before releasing her. The spokeswoman for the park initially called this incident an accident, stating that “the whale did not bite her. If it had, she would have lost her arm.”

The End of SeaWorld?

The release of the 2013 documentary Blackfish brought significant public attention to marine parks and the practice of keeping orcas in captivity. Orcas held in captivity often face higher mortality rates than their wild counterparts. They are separated from their families and confined to small tanks instead of being allowed to migrate freely in the ocean. The Whale Sanctuary Project is working to create large seaside sanctuaries for rescued cetaceans like Keto, offering them the freedom to experience the ocean while still receiving human care.