Escaped sea lion belly flops onto employee at marine park in Mallorca
Crushed by Triton: Escaped sea lion falls belly down on employee trying to push 330-pound beast back into its enclosure at Mallorca’s marine park
- Marineworld keeper Sonia tried to stop a seal named Tritón from falling out of his tank
This is when a sea lion that had climbed onto the side of its enclosure fell three feet and knocked its keeper to the ground as she tried to push the 330-pound animal back inside.
As the seal, named Tritón, teetered on the edge of its glass tank, keeper Sonia could be seen rushing over to prevent it from falling.
But the friendly beast then crashed on top of her, his weight instantly knocking Sonia to the ground and scaring spectators at Marineworld in Majorca that she had “broken something.”
British, German and American tourists watched in horror as the incident unfolded, with several people jumping from their seats.
But thankfully, shortly after the aquatic mammal and its caretaker hit the ground, they seemed to make a quick recovery, with Tritón waddling after Sonia as the pair rushed to get him checked out by medics.
This is when Tritón was seen teetering on the edge of his glass tank in Marineland, Mallorca
The full weight of the sea lion was carried by the female keeper, who was unable to carry the 330-pound beast
Attendees included influencer Micah Diaz, 20, who is from Clearwater, Florida, USA and was visiting Marineland with his family.
He witnessed the shocking moment when Tritón managed to escape from the tank, which is surrounded by hundreds of seats for paying spectators.
“I was on holiday with the family to Marineland in Mallorca,” he said.
‘I am a surfer and am very comfortable with marine life and have been to many aquariums.
“I have never seen such an accident.
“I was immediately in shock and thought the woman had broken something.”
After Sonia managed to get out from under Tritón, the pair quickly jumped back up and he was taken away to be checked.
“The sea lion was then taken,” he said.
“I assume I’m being checked for injuries or back in the tank.
‘This doesn’t happen often.
“It seemed like the sea lion got a little excited.
“But thankfully both were fine.”
At the end of the ordeal, Sonia had stood up and petted the sea lion as a gesture that they were both unharmed and still friends.
Tritón’s weight caused Sonia to immediately fall to the ground, scaring onlookers that she had “broken something”
Sonia managed to get out from under Triton and the pair quickly rebounded before he was taken away to be checked
Tritón, who performs every day for visitors to the park, has been described by his caretakers as “150 pounds of love and kindness.”
Marineland shared a video after the incident of the seal and Sonia together to show that both are well and to thank the public for their concern.
The park is a popular marine theme park that also hosts dolphin and sea lion shows.
The attraction isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and the practice of keeping wild animals in captivity and training them for performances has been criticized by campaigners in Europe and the US in recent years.
Attendees included influencer Micah Diaz, 20, who is from Clearwater, Florida, USA and visited Marineland in Mallorca with his family.