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.

[cricket]

After those few episodes, I concluded that there was usually just too much going on for the benefit of the cameras and the vicarious thrill-seekers in the audience, and went on with other priorities like work, my wife, freeping, etc. I'm aware this isn't a popular position, especially with the poor guy's funeral still pending, but it is my position.

You are entitled, for sure. . .to your opinion/thoughts. But you might first consider that watching only a few episodes out of Steve Irwin's life; gives you limited perspective for your opinion.

And should you not want to consider this. . .then you might consider how easy it is to make that which is simple and humbling. . .love of 'wife, work' et al. . .turn, by even the slightest measurement of contempt. . .into a fuller measure of arrogance.

That said; I am sure you are not alone in your judgment. . .many of us work to be; and/or want to be - safe and secure; and so cannot appreciate those whose MO seems so different than our own.

. . .can only say, that even the smallest joy requires a brave heart; and so I thank God, for those who live life with a joy that is bravely shared with so many.

[Mr. Silverback]

Done!

[Mr. Silverback]

Adam is a goofball, but if you saw the episode where they shocked him as a joke with an electrified fence power supply, he got REAL angry real fast at how potentially dangerous it was, and I'm sure more was said off camera.

He's not the only one. Those dorks really could have killed him doing that, and should all three have their butts kicked.

[happinesswithoutpeace]

Goodbye, Mr. Irwin.

"The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long. And you have burned so very, very brightly."

[Mr. Silverback]

Actually, Mama Cass died from a heart attack. In a bizarre coincidence, she died in the same bed that Keith Moon had died in four years earlier.

[Mr. Silverback]

I'm starting up a dive ping list. You want on?

[Mr. Silverback]

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.

No offense, but you have no bloody idea what you're talking about.

Obviously death by stingray is rare, but it happens to divers and swimmers who are doing nothing to "tempt death." Scuba is safer than driving to the nearest convenience store, and thousands of hours of dive time are logged every year in areas where rays congregate.

[Mr. Silverback]

The Aussie responded with a correction about how the Ray hit him close to the heart.

He must have died withing minutes, if not instantly. It's possible the barb didn't just wound the heart, but punched right through.

[Mr. Silverback]

I'm starting a diving ping list. You want on?

[Mr. Silverback]

Dude, dontcha know that you can’t point out hypocritical voyeurism here? Have the Natalee Holloway and “runaway bride” sob-fests taught you nothing? Not to worry. This will pass as soon as a new tsk-tsk event occurs.

I am not sobbing. I hear the name Natalee Holloway and think primarily of the disgusting state of today's media. I hear "runaway bride" and get a good chuckle.

I tell you those things so you know I'm not saying the following because you "hit a nerve," but instead because you deserve it:

We already have our quota of pompous, classless dipsticks on this thread, so kindly take your empty-headed, meanspirited BS and cram it.

[Mr. Silverback]

Sorry, I don't mean to offend you but to call this an accident is like saying a fatality from Russian Roulette was an accident. The guy was aware of the risks from poisonous creatures, especially poisonous sea creatures, and unfortunately for himself, his family and friends, and his fans, he overplayed his hand, with tragic results.

Please, O Great Expert, detail for us the exact circumstances that led to Irwin getting a barb in the chest. Share with us your inside information. You see, you must know exactly what he was doing, the exact position of the animal, all that stuff, in order to say that he "overplayed his hand" with a poisonous animal.

Unless you're just a pompous ass, of course.

[Central Scrutiniser]

Exactly, I've dove with stingrays dozens of times in the Barrier Reef, they aren't dangerous, but it was a freak accident. He was diving during a spawing season, in very shallow waters (5-6 feet) and the rays were defensive and he was probably chasing it into more shallow water.

Every few years there is a story about a fisherman that gets killed by the nose of a spearfish or something freak like that.

Its sad that Steve had to die in such an improbable accident. In the waters off of Port Douglas, there are Irikanju jellies that inflict extreme pain and death, blue ringed octopus that can kill you, sea snakes that are the most venemous snakes on earth, stonefish which can kill you with venom, and cone shells which are extremely painful killers with neurotoxins.

The irony is that being stung by any stingray in the area is not fatal, but an errant barb into the heart will kill you.

A freak accident.

[Mr. Silverback]

What's really insane are lame comebacks that suppose out of ignorance that any persons first thought would be the hope of an instant replay. My first thought and post was this was sad.

You forget that he and so many Freepers like him are omniscient.

[Rte66]

Updating with the many threads that followed:

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

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695171/posts
Crocodile Hunter; Steve Irwin killed by stingray
MSNBC ^ | September 4, 2006 | Associated Press

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695174/posts
Witnesses tell of freak death of Steve Irwin
News.com.AU via Drudge ^ | September 4, 2006 | By staff writers and wires

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695216/posts
Crocodile Hunter Irwin: Passionate Showman in the Wild (AP Obit)
Associated Press ^ | Sept 4, 2006 | Marc Lavine

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695281/posts
Croc Hunter's stingray death caught on film
news.com.au ^ | Sept 4, 2006 | Ian Gerard and Tony Koch

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695308/posts
Crocodile hunter was victim of 'voyeuristic wildlife TV'
This is London ^ | 09-04-06 | Staff

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695411/posts
Steve Irwin's freak death filmed
TheAustralian.com ^ | 9/5/06 | Ian Gerard and Tony Koch

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695501/posts
World mourns our adventurer
Herald Sun ^ | 5 September 2006

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695516/posts
Irwin video may be made public
Herald Sun ^ | 5 September 2006

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695524/posts
Irwin death footage 'shocking'
Herald Sun ^ | 5 September 2006 | Dave Donaghy

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695540/posts
Irwin family offered state funeral (Australia Honours the Crocodile Hunter)
The Australian ^ | 9/5/2006 | n/a

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695557/posts
Statement by marie claire [Bindi & Steve featured in current issue]
marie claire Australia ^

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695582/posts
Bindi's touching tribute
news.com.au ^ | 5 September 2006 | Fiona Connolly

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695592/posts
Politicians pay tribute to Irwin (Parliament salutes Croc Man)
Herald Sun ^ | 5 September 2006

[Tinyurl to good magazine article focusing on his family]
http://heh.pl/&32Z

[Mr. Silverback]

Well said. It is truly ironic that of all the things he could have run into there, he was killed by a stingray. But it's a mercy, too, since the deaths caused by those other critters are usually quite painful.

BTW, I'm starting a diver ping list...you want on?

[motormouth]

I didnt really watch him, but my son did and thought he was the greatest thing since sliced bread.
What a shame.

MM

[OKSooner]

"He was diving during a spawing season, in very shallow waters (5-6 feet) and the rays were defensive and he was probably chasing it into more shallow water."

So the ray perceived him as a threat and it knew exactly what it was doing when it stung him?

[Houmatt]

I found out about this in the wee hours of Monday morning. I was in such a state of shock I had trouble going back to sleep.

I am so worried about his family and how they are coping.

[aruanan]

So many of us expected it to be a crocodile.
Who'd have thought it would be a sting ray?

It's like an Olympic gymnast tripping on a sidewalk crack and breaking his neck.

[WolfRunnerWoman]

Pompous: See Silverback's replies defending asinine thrill-seeking