Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin dead

News.com.au ^ | September 4, 2006

[lunarbicep]

He was killed in a freak accident in Cairns, police sources said. It is understood he was killed by a sting-ray barb that went through his chest.

He was swimming off the Low Isles at Port Douglas filming an underwater documentary and that's when it occured.

[satchmodog9]

He bought acres of land with his own money to preserve the wildlife he loved. It's too bad, he seemed like a good guy.

[MarkL]

Yes, they did seem like such a happy couple, I always thought they were a perfect match, even their interests were so in line.

IIRC, in the episode where they came to the US, it was revealed that as she was growing up, she helped raise a mountain lion! They really were a perfect match.

Mark

[OKSooner]

Speaking for myself, I'm not surprised by the news. The poor guy was afflicted with some kind of death wish, and he died while tempting death. May God judge him mercifully.

He would have lived longer if he'd had an interest in something else, perhaps music or Australian football.

[MarkL]

Well Jeff, as I waded in the waters off Padre Island waste deep a little baggie swam by me with tenticles over 10 ft. long and wrapped themselves around my waste. The Man-O-War proceeded to paralyse me. Fellow sailors rubbed sand on me and while in the ER, I was futher rubbed with Adolfs meat tenderizer to counteract the poision. I hope this description helped.

I read that if you see their floats, you just stay the hell out of the water altogether. I've heard that their tenticles can reach as long as 40 feet, but I could be wrong about that. It's been a very long time since I was interested in diving.

Mark

[satchmodog9]

You should have seen the CBS report this morning. They New York anchor was interviewing a colleague of Irwin's and he said" the death was an excruciating one'. Almost wishing it were so hearing the tone of his voice. The Aussie responded with a correction about how the Ray hit him close to the heart. Seems so many of them revel in others pain. I bet there is a race by the media to break the bad news to the wife, just to get her reaction on film.

[MarkL]

I was leery of them even when they were dead on the beach :~)

And they're still every bit as dangerous. The stinging cells are still active - well I guess "active" isn't the right word to use - and capable of delivering venom.

Mark

[RDTF]

I hated waking up to this. What a shame, but no surprise. But a Stingray? Weird.

[SlowBoat407]

The poor guy was afflicted with some kind of death wish, and he died while tempting death.

Wow! You had a chance to psychoanalyze him? How did he get along with his mother? What kind of dreams did he have?

OTOH, maybe he was fascinated with these creatures and wanted to share that with other people.

[lunarbicep]

"While I sit in the boat, Jim will be wrestling that 97 foot anaconda..."

ROFL.... you owe me some type of screen cleaner

[mom4kittys]

I knew that! It made perfectly good sense to Steve didn't it! ? He loved that dog. I hope he is reunited with Sui now.

[RDTF]

I've snorkled them many times and they never acted aggressive. They were not considered dangerous.

[RDTF]

"He named one of his children after his favorite croc, the other after his dog!"

He was definitely a unique kook, but I guess that's why we liked him

[mom4kittys]

Did you see the episode where they were in the "jungle" of New York? That was so funny

[OKSooner]

Sorry, it shouldn't take a shrink to figure this one out.

You have a good day, too.

[mkjessup]

No, he made a living by exposing himself to dangerous animals. You found it entertaining and don't like when someone points out the nature of your little habit. It's not difficult to tell how many of you are city people with little experience of animals and wildlife. Being endangered by animals really isn't entertainment except to couch potatoes watching someone else do it on the telly.

Go screw yourself you pompous twit.

[cake_crumb]

I didn't hear about this until this morning. Prayers for Terri and their two children.

[A knight without armor]

I was always amazed how he seemed to fear nothing. He'd flip over logs and look in crannies for snakes and bugs as well as deal with big animals. I will definitely miss The Crocodile Hunter and remember him.

[Youngblood]

Terrible news...

I hope his family and business partners continue his good work.

RIP Steve. You'll be missed.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

This news just sucks! We always liked his show and appreciated his conservation work. He also did a cool show for the Discovery Channel a couple of years ago called the "Ghosts of War," in which he visited old World War II battle sites in the Pacific, including a few Japanese bunkers that still had their remains in them.

[smore]

"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," University of Queensland marine neuroscientist Shaun Collin.
I am an avid diver, as well as my husband and 2 boys. My husband and I have been diving for over 16 years our boys for 6 years. We have had the pleasure of seeing some of God's beautiful creatures below the surface. We have fed stingray and watched sharks swim by, all without a minute of trouble. This was a sad, freak accident and should be noted as such. He was doing what he loved. He was documenting that which many many never have the pleasure of seeing.
We should thank him for bringing light to the world for both young and old no matter how he did it. He changed many lives just by doing that. I wonder how many of the children who have watched him became zoologist, veterinarians, or marine biologist, rather than rap stars. Make no mistake about it, he will be missed for he was loved by many.
Prayers to his family and may he rest in peace.