Posted on 09/04/2006 2:45:37 AM PDT by Mercat
Steve Irwin dead at 44, diving and killed by a stingray. Survived by wife and two children, RIP.
Reports: Australia’s ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin killed The Associated Press
Monday, September 4, 2006
Brisbane, Australia — Steve Irwin, the hugely popular Australian television personality and environmentalist known as the “Crocodile Hunter,” was killed Monday by a stingray during a diving expedition, Australian media said. He was 44.
Irwin was filming an underwater documentary on the Great Barrier Reef in northeastern Queensland state when the accident occurred, Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on its Web site.
The Australian Broadcasting Corp. said Irwin was diving near Low Isles Reef near the resort town of Port Douglas, about 1,260 miles north of the state capital of Brisbane.
Queensland ambulance service spokesman Bob Hamil confirmed that a diver had been killed by a stingray off Lowe Isles Reef but refused to say who the victim was until relatives had been notified.
A rescue helicopter was sent from the nearby city of Cairns, and paramedics from it confirmed the diver’s death.
“The probable cause of death is stingray strike to the chest,” Hamil said.
Staff at Australia Zoo, Irwin’s zoo in southern Queensland, said they had heard the reports but could not comment.
(Excerpt) Read more at 2.ljworld.com ...
yes, this is sad. Seemed like he had everything going for him.
bttt
Oh this sucks
Very sad indeed, but the few times I had seen the show, I just knew this guy was playing very, very close with danger. I am not totally surprised something like this happened.
Irwin is famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchcry “Crikey!” in his television program “Crocodile Hunter,” which was first broadcast in Australia in 1992 and has aired around the world on the Discovery channel.
He rode his image into a feature film, and developed the Australia Zoo as a tourist attraction.
Irwin had received some negative publicity in recent years. In January 2004, he stunned onlookers at the Australia Zoo reptile park by carrying his 1-year-old son into a crocodile pen during a wildlife show. He tucked the infant under one arm while tossing the 13-foot reptile a piece of meat with the other.
Authorities declined to charge Irwin for 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.
Irwin was also seen as a vocal critic of wildlife hunts in Australia. The federal government recently dropped plans to allow crocodile safaris for wealthy tourists in the Northern Territory following his vehement objections.
Irwin told the Australian television program “A Current Affair” that “killing one of our beautiful animals in the name of trophy hunting will have a very negative impact on tourism, which scares the living daylights out of me.”
He is survived by his American wife Terri, from Oregon, and their daughter Bindi Sue, 8, and son Bob, who will turn 3 in December.
Oh, how awful! My kids are going to be very upset about this.
Oh man.
I'm very sorry to hear this.
Too bad. I enjoyed his show. Those stingray barbs can be dangerous.
Oh no. I hope this isn't true! There have been rumors of his demise before. I've always enjoyed his show and his big, goofy, animal-lovin' nerd routine. It was also great how he made his family a part of the show. Terri is good people. Prayers for her and the family.
Sept. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Australian television star Steve Irwin, known as the ``Crocodile Hunter,'' died after a stingray's barb pierced his heart during the filming of a documentary, police said. The 44-year-old collapsed and attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. He was filming at Batt Reef, near Port Douglas, a popular tourist resort, when the incident occurred about 11 a.m. today, the Queensland Police Service said in an e-mailed statement.
I really liked this guy. He loved life.
I'm surprised by the method.
I sure hate this...he was a good guy. However, if you play with fire, you eventually get burned.
At least he died while doing what he so obviously loved.
Prayers up for his wife and child.
One of the Good Guys, gone...
Rest in Peace, Mate.
Prayers for you, tonite
and for Terri and yer two wee kids.
I don't cry often, but I am now.
*DieHard*
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695100/posts
Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin dead
News.com.au ^ | September 4, 2006
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695105/posts
Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin dead - Locked Thread
Courier Mail ^ | September 04, 2006
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695133/posts
The Crocodile Hunter
Herald Sun ^ | 4 September 2006 | Matthew Schulz
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695139/posts
Flowers laid in honour of Irwin
news.com.au ^ | 4 September 2006
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695142/posts
Irwin brought joy to millions: PM (John Howard)
news.com.au ^ | 4 September 2006
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695144/posts
Passive stingrays can be deadly
news.com.au ^ | September 04, 2006 05:04pm | Danny Rose and Jane Williams
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695160/posts
Steve Irwin, Croc hunter, dead, killed by stingray
AP Wire ^ | September 4, 2006
Ping
Please join me in grief
*DieHard*
That's a shame. May he rest in peace.
Crikey! Terribly sad news for his family and his fans.
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