Despite their nickname, killer whales have been involved in very few known assaults on people – at least in the wild.

However, when kept in captivity, the gorgeous creatures may become hostile, even lethal.

More than 30 instances with captive orcas have resulted in human harm or death since the early 1970s.

Most of these attacks involve pressing up on humans, pulling them to the pool’s bottom, or hitting them with their bodies.

Several people have been bitten during assaults, particularly when the whales try to pull them with their teeth.

Typically, individuals implicated in deadly assaults have been animal park employees rather than members of the general public.

However, in 1999, a trespasser called Daniel Dukes was discovered dead after entering the orca cage after the park had closed.

Many groups feel that imprisoned orcas grow agitated as a result of being cramped up in an unnatural manner, which causes them to become hostile.

SeaWorld, for example, has insisted on prioritising the creatures’ health and well-being.

However, a number of organisations, like Peta, have condemned such parks as inhumane.

Annette Eckis, a SeaWorld PR secretary, was meant to ride an orca in a bikini for a publicity ploy on April 20, 1971.

At first, the prank featuring Shamu, a five-year-old dolphin, appeared to be a success.

After a few seconds, Annette slipped off the creature’s back, and Shamu snatched her leg in her teeth.

She swam around the tank, pulling the wailing woman after her and refusing to let her go.

Divers tried furiously to release her with metal poles, fearful that if they pulled any harder, Annette’s skin would be torn off by the creature’s sharp fangs.

They were eventually able to transport her to safety, at which time she collapsed from shock.

TRIED TO DROWN TRAINER

Kasatka, a 30-year-old orca, was claimed to be irritated by hearing her calf scream out when she snatched Ken Peters and hauled him beneath at the San Diego, California-based attraction.

Cameras at the park capture Peters kissing Kasatka from the side of the pool.

If all had gone according to plan, he would have jumped into the ocean before being triumphantly hauled out of the water on the whale’s nose.

When his head came through the surface, it was evident that something had gone horribly wrong.

As he attempted to stand and the audience applauded, he began to thrash violently because Kasatka had bitten his foot.

As stunned onlookers watched, the killer whale went deep into the pool, dragging Peters with it.

Kasatka ultimately let him go, although he had a shattered foot and puncture wounds as a result.