My heart and prayers go out to this woman’s family.

A veteran animal trainer whose dream was to work at SeaWorld’s Shamu Stadium was killed Wednesday when one of the show’s killer whales dragged her underwater and she drowned.

SeaWorld said that 12,000-pound Tilikum pulled Dawn Brancheau, 40, into the orca’s tank about 2p.m.

Witnesses told the Orlando Sentinel that the animal suddenly grabbed Brancheau by the upper arm, tossed her around in his mouth and pulled her beneath the water as dozens of tourists looked on in horror.

However, you’d think that the word “killer” in its name would be a giveaway that maybe, you know, it kills things?  If you want to keep it caged, don’t get into the cage with it.  And though some are advocating destroying the animal, killing it would be even more senseless than using it as a toy for tourists.