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Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter: RIP

I’ve always been a fan of Steve “Crocodile Hunter” Irwin, 44. But I always had the sense that it was a matter of “when”, rather than “if” Steve would get too close to his life’s work.

Sadly, that “when” was this morning in Australia:

SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) — Steve Irwin, the TV presenter known as the “Crocodile Hunter,” has died after being stung by a stingray in a marine accident off Australia’s north coast.

Media reports say Irwin was diving in waters off Port Douglas, north of Cairns, when the incident happened on Monday morning.

Irwin, 44 was killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest, according to Cairns police sources. Irwin was filming an underwater documentary at the time.

I always assumed Steve would probably lose his life to a croc or a venemous snake. Steve is only the third person in Australia to die as a result of a stingray attack, so this really is a freak tragedy.

More from News.com.au:

Choking back tears, Mr Stainton said Irwin had gone “over the top of a stingray and a stingray’s barb went up and went into his chest and put a hole into his heart”.

“He possibly died instantly when the barb hit him, and I don’t think that he … felt any pain.”

Professional diver Pete West was on board a nearby boat and was asked by Irwin’s team to call in the emergency.

Asked on Channel 7 if Irwin was alive when they got him on his own boat, Mr West said: “I believe so.”

“He was doing what he did best and unfortunately today he wasn’t quick enough.”

From Wikipedia:

Irwin believed in promoting environmentalism by sharing his excitement about the natural world rather than preaching to people. He was concerned with conservation of endangered animals and land clearing leading to loss of habitat. He urged people to take part in considerate tourism and not support illegal poaching through the purchase of items such as turtle shells.

He considered conservation to be the most important part of his work: “I consider myself a wild-life warrior. My mission is to save the world’s endangered species.” Irwin has bought “large tracts of land” in Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the United States, which he describes as “like national parks” and stressed the importance of people realising that they could each make a difference.

Posted by Robbie Cooper on Monday, September 4th, 2006 | Trackback |

10 Responses to “Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter: RIP”

“He possibly died instantly when the barb hit him, and I don’t think that he … felt any pain.”

I doubt that. I wonder how large the barb was? This isn’t meant in anyway to berate the guy, but why do they call it an “accident”? It seems like an odd word choice. He got too close? He was careless? Anyway, I am sorry he died and I feel for his family, especially his wife and two small children.

Left by Anonymous on September 4th, 2006 at 8:20 am

The barb is reported to be 7–8″ long.

Left by Robbie on September 4th, 2006 at 9:20 am

Thanks. I know they can be rather large and cause tremondous damage.

Left by Anonymous on September 4th, 2006 at 9:37 am

When I was in the Grand Cayman Islands, I swam with the stingrays. That particular day all excursions from the cruise ship were cancelled because the water was too rough, but my friend and I went with some locals on a junket out to a coral reef where many stingrays are used to being fed by the fishermen and of course tourists. To say the water was rough was an understatement. This wasn’t an area close to the beach where they keep the rays in a fenced in area. It was quite deep (not sure how deep as I couldn’t see bottom). I ended up hanging on to the tow rope they had thrown out and after a few “dives” I gave up and climbed back in the boat but a few of the more experienced among us actually did get up close and personal and I watched one woman hold one in her arms. It was quite a spectacular site and something I’ll never forget.

The news this morning of Steve Irwin greatly pained me. He had such a lust for life and a love for all animals in the wild. I hope he’s being showered with love from all the animals in Heaven.

Left by dianne on September 4th, 2006 at 11:49 am

Why I saw many people put turtle in their nick as a respect to Steve? I still don’t understand. Why turtle? Why not croc?

Left by Anonymous on September 5th, 2006 at 4:05 am

They are reporting that Irwin pulled the barb out of his chest. A normal reaction. However, I wonder if he would have had a chance if he left it in? He was so far away from help, but who knows?

Left by Anonymous on September 5th, 2006 at 8:37 am

Again, I am curious as to whether the barb penetrated his heart and caused enough damage to stop it from beating, or whether the poison injected in his heart or chest caused his heart to stop. The comment by his friend that it penetrated his heart is suspect in that I don’t think an autopsy had been conducted and he said Mr. Irwin died instantly, which is untrue according to those who saw the tape.

Left by Anonymous on September 5th, 2006 at 11:27 am

[comment deleted by Robbie --- sorry, but if you want to post advertisements on my blog, I sell Blogads. Not to mention I think trying to capitalize on Steve Irwin's death before his body has even been laid to rest is pretty shitty.]

Left by Terry on September 6th, 2006 at 1:06 am

Steve Irwin put smile on a lot of peoples faces. If you enjoyed watching him put his life on the line to capture a 16 foot crocodile or if you just loved to listen to him talk. From “Crikey” to ” Flat out like a lizard drinking”, no one who watched him can’t say that he was just and entertainer or that he wasn’t passionate about animals. So maybe he didn’t go to college, he was just doing what he loved and he shared it with the rest of us. He did what he did and he taught everyone about wildlife. I have been reading some of the things about Steve that some people have put up on the net. That’s there opinion and they have that right. But why, Steve Irwin probably made money no doubt. But no one can say that there was never a time that Steve didn’t put a smile on there face. If only when he said,
” If this croc takes off a limb there’ll be someone out there that says, I told every body that a croc would get him”. Steve would even find a way to put a smile on there face to. To Terri Irwin and there kids when I heard the news my heart dropped. My condolences go out to the family. I wish you the best in this trying time and I hope you all the best

Good luck and take care, Matthew D. Longino
Breaux Bridge, La

Left by Matthew Longino on September 8th, 2006 at 7:06 pm

May you come back as a croc! :)

Left by RIP, Bloke! on September 9th, 2006 at 11:32 am

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