Steve Irwin Killed!

[Lambo]

From Forbes.com

 

Steve Irwin, the hugely popular Australian television personality and conservationist known as the "Crocodile Hunter," was killed Monday by a stingray while filming off the Great Barrier Reef. He was 44.

 

Irwin was at Batt Reef, off the remote coast of northeastern Queensland state, shooting a segment for a series called "Ocean's Deadliest" when he swam too close to one of the animals, which have a poisonous bard on their tails, his friend and colleague John Stainton said.

 

"He came on top of the stingray and the stingray's barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his heart," said Stainton, who was on board Irwin's boat at the time.

 

Crew members aboard the boat, Croc One, called emergency services in the nearest city, Cairns, and administered CPR as they rushed the boat to nearby Low Isle to meet a rescue helicopter. Medical staff pronounced Irwin dead when they arrived a short time later, Stainton said.

 

Irwin was famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchword "Crikey!" in his television program "Crocodile Hunter." First broadcast in Australia in 1992, the program was picked up by the Discovery network, catapulting Irwin to international celebrity.

 

He rode his image into a feature film, 2002's "The Crocodile Hunters: Collision Course" and developed the wildlife park that his parents opened, Australia Zoo, into a major tourist attraction.

 

"The world has lost a great wildlife icon, a passionate conservationist and one of the proudest dads on the planet," Stainton told reporters in Cairns. "He died doing what he loved best and left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind. He would have said, 'Crocs Rule!'"

 

Prime Minister John Howard, who hand-picked Irwin to attend a gala barbecue to honor President Bush when he visited in 2003, said he was "shocked and distressed at Steve Irwin's sudden, untimely and freakish death."

 

"It's a huge loss to Australia," Howard told reporters. "He was a wonderful character. He was a passionate environmentalist. He brought joy and entertainment and excitement to millions of people."

 

Irwin, who made a trademark of hovering dangerously close to untethered crocodiles and leaping on their backs, spoke in rapid-fire bursts with a thick Australian accent and was almost never seen without his uniform of khaki shorts and shirt and heavy boots.

 

His ebullience was infectious and Australian officials sought him out for photo opportunities and to promote Australia internationally.

 

Irwin's public image was dented, however, in 2004 when he caused an uproar by holding his infant son in one arm while feeding large crocodiles inside a zoo pen. Irwin claimed at the time there was no danger to the child, and authorities declined to charge Irwin with violating safety regulations.

 

Later that year, he was accused of getting too close to penguins, a seal and humpback whales in Antarctica while making a documentary. Irwin denied any wrongdoing, and an Australian Environment Department investigation recommended no action be taken against him.

 

Stingrays have a serrated, toxin-loaded barb, or spine, on the top of their tail. The barb, which can be up to 10 inches long, flexes if a ray is frightened. Stings usually occur to people when they step on or swim too close to a ray and can be excruciatingly painful but are rarely fatal, said University of Queensland marine neuroscientist Shaun Collin.

 

Collin said he suspected Irwin died because the barb pierced under his ribcage and directly into his heart.

 

"It was extraordinarily bad luck. It's not easy to get spined by a stingray and to be killed by one is very rare," Collin said.

 

News of Irwin's death spread quickly, and tributes flowed from all quarters of society.

 

At Australia Zoo at Beerwah, south Queensland, floral tributes were dropped at the entrance, where a huge fake crocodile gapes. Drivers honked their horns as they passed.

 

"Steve, from all God's creatures, thank you. Rest in peace," was written on a card with a bouquet of native flowers.

 

"We're all very shocked. I don't know what the zoo will do without him. He's done so much for us, the environment and it's a big loss," said Paula Kelly, a local resident and volunteer at the zoo, after dropping off a wreath at the gate.

 

Stainton said Irwin's American-born wife Terri, from Eugene, Ore., had been informed of his death, and had told their daughter Bindi Sue, 8, and son Bob, who will turn 3 in December.

 

The couple met when she went on vacation in Australia in 1991 and visited Irwin's Australia Zoo; they were married six months later. Sometimes referred to as the "Crocodile Huntress," she costarred on her husband's television show and in his 2002 movie.

 

 

A terrible shame. R.I.P Steve.

[Rikard]

This is a terrible shame

 

I remember watching his programs when i was younger, they were always exciting to watch and great entertainment

 

Will surly be missed by millions,

 

R.I.P Steve Irwin

 

[attachmentid=8913]

 

22 February 1962 – 4 September 2006

[splinter]

 

was watching ITV news hour at about 6am this morning when it was 1st announced. It seems so unlucky, the one time when he probably wasn't doing something, in theory, which was particularly dangerous. It just seems like another freak accident.

 

Feel so sorry for his family, and what a great character on TV for the last 12 years or so.

 

As for those idiots who complain about what he's done with his kids and for getting up close to animals, what the hell do they know. I'm sure Steve wouldn't do anything to put his kids or most animals in danger. The same people who complain are probably the same people that you see on You've Been Framed, letting there Alsation dog lick their babies faces! and saying aaaah.

 

RIP Steve Irwin

 

 

[attachmentid=8923][attachmentid=8924]

Edited September 4, 2006 by splinter

[Kruiz 136]

This is a terrible shame and could not believe it when i heard it this morning, it is very sad news, Australia's invincable man, killed at least doing what he loved most. I feel sorry for his family and is so unluvky to have been killed in the first place,

 

R.I.P Steve Irwin.

[Nick M48]

Very sad news indeed, quite ironic that he spent his life helping to save animals and then loses his life because of one

 

RIP Steve Irwin.

[MoR137]

Shocked me when i switched on GMTV this morning to hear this. Steve seemed (from his programs) a generally nice man, never short of a smile and loved his job so passionately. My thoughts go out to his family and friends, a very very sad loss.

 

RIP Steve Irwin

 

[Tricky88]

 

RIP Steve Irwin

 

Like others on here totally shocked when i heard this tragic news this morning loved watching his programs as the guy was a total nutter but he loved his animals and his family with such a passion , we probalby all thought when he goes it will be a croc that takes his life not a tragic accident like this but he died doing what he loved

[xTx]

Sometimes you hear of a famous persons death and it stops you in your tracks, even though you never met or knew them. Steve Irwin was just such a person, overflowing with life, love, knowledge, humour and passion. His fame and fortune were a by-product of his life work and he was all the more appreciated for it. Although i've no big interest in nature, i've learnt from watching his programmes and greatly enjoyed them too. I'll spare his family a thought or two, they must have loved him dearly.

 

As the saying goes, we all owe nature a death.

 

Steve Irwins was a little too soon.

 

R.I.P.

Edited September 4, 2006 by xTx

[Tombo209]

i was very shocked when i heard he died, as i only saw him on tv a few days ago.

when your flicking through the channels to find something decent and come up to animal planet and watch him move and show us about dangerous animals it makes tv realy better and realy makes you think how good he is with animals.

 

R.I.P Steve Irwin

[Lambo]

Discovery Animal Planet are doing a tribute to him.

[COURTY 334]

I saw it on the news at lunchtime and was stunned. A man who wrestled with crocs was killed with what some think as a quite harmless stingray. Sad news

 

 

R.I.P

[dangerous damo]

was only watchin crocodile hunter diaries yesterday. he never even flinched as a snake repeatedly bit his arm. what a legend. that man had some seriously big davinas.

 

RIP Steve Irwin

[Aub]

a big shame indeed shocked me tbh but i was listening to radio 2 somtime friday nite when i was cooking little 1s tea and there was sort of a jokey opening to a show and it said steve irwin is dead then came sum sort of 1 liner but didnt think any more of it. how wierd

 

but i can say i met the man once he was staying at my exs parents hotel and he was a very nice bloke sat down and ad a good chat to him. what i found quite strange he didnt talk about his work just about stuff that was going on in the world etc etc

 

RIP Steve irwin

[Budge313]

R.I.P. Steve irwin

 

About all i can say... the rest has been said

 

And can we do the steve a favour.... When the sick txt's come though the bad taste jokes, just don't pass them on and let's have some respect for a top bloke,

 

who all he wanted to do was help the animal kingdom, and try to explain to us how it all works, In the hope that one day we can all live in harmony

[The London Allstar]

Very well said Budge, i must say i have watched him on the TV many times...an amazing man who wanted to do all he could for others. I first heard about this off someone i rarely talk to, due to the fact they talk a lot of poo, so i didnt really notice, but when i heard it on the radio it did come as quite a shock to find it actually true

 

R.I.P

[erik]

Irwin's programmes captured my imagination in my younger years, and I used to watch them quite alot. I remember once before there was speculation that he was dead, but obviously this time its true. The irony is that he handled all them venomous creatures and crocodiles but that wasn't what killed him.

 

As Budge said, all this guy wanted to do was help the animal kingdom and improve our knowledge thereof. He wasn't scared to travel to third world countries to deal with animals or handle them. That showed his real commitment to it.

 

RIP