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Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin dead
News.com.au ^ | September 4, 2006

Posted on 09/03/2006 9:29:57 PM PDT by lunarbicep

Edited on 09/04/2006 5:53:46 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]

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.


(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...


TOPICS: Announcements; Australia/New Zealand
KEYWORDS: australia; crikey; crocodilehunter; grief; irwin; naturalselection; obituary; prayerthread; rip; sadness; steveirwin; stingray; wonder
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To: stainlessbanner
may we all be as passionate as Irwin in our pursuit of life.

Hear hear.

81 posted on 09/03/2006 9:54:27 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: George W. Bush
It's part of the business.

Exactly. His schtick was interacting with dangerous animals. That entails an inherent risk---and the odds catch up to you.

82 posted on 09/03/2006 9:55:00 PM PDT by Wormwood (Everybody lies, but it doesn't matter because nobody listens.)
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To: lunarbicep
Latest from News.com.au:

It is believed Mr Irwin's American-born wife Terri is trekking on Cradle Mountain in Tasmania and has yet to be told of her husband's death.

This is horrible. She's going to be among the last to know.

83 posted on 09/03/2006 9:55:47 PM PDT by L.N. Smithee (Hey, Genius! If YOU aren't a Muslim fascist, Bush wasn't talking to you! So why are you offended?)
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To: A CA Guy
He was a good guy and entertaining. His wife and kids must be devastated.

I might add that he was a disarming and charming character who truly loved the creatures he brought into our homes.....as no doubt he was loved by his audience.

The more this sinks in, the more it upsets me. Steve Irwin was a one of kind and will be greatly missed.

84 posted on 09/03/2006 9:55:51 PM PDT by Jorge
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To: djf

A conch? Maybe you're thinking of a cone shell.


85 posted on 09/03/2006 9:55:54 PM PDT by Moonman62 (The issue of whether cheap labor makes America great should have been settled by the Civil War.)
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To: jimbo123

You have to be kidding. I would think that mountain would have all kinds of helicopters going and and short wave radio trying to get to her.

Man that is bad.


86 posted on 09/03/2006 9:56:07 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: lunarbicep

Great showman and brave dude. I will miss him.


87 posted on 09/03/2006 9:56:09 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
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To: jimbo123

Apparently his wife doesn't know yet. She's climbing a mountain somewhere.

How awful. Hope they can contact her somehow. May her husband RIP.


88 posted on 09/03/2006 9:56:17 PM PDT by flaglady47
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To: lunarbicep

Tragic loss of Aussie icon

Neale Maynard ONLINE NEWS EDITOR

September 04, 2006 02:28pm

Article from: The Courier Mail: Tragic loss of Aussie icon

HE dealt daily with all manner of dangerous creatures ... giant crocodiles, poisonous snakes, komodo dragons ... but it was a less obvious hazard that claimed the life of Steve Irwin.

Irwin had taken calculated risks with all sorts of wildlife for decades, relying on his knowledge of animal behaviour and personal experience to beat the odds.

For someone who spent so much time around killer animals, Irwin seemed to leave a charmed life.

So his demise was all the more shocking because it apparently involved a stingray, an animal regarded as dangerous but not as a killer.

It is understood that Irwin was swimming off the Low Isles off Port Douglas filming a documentary, a task Irwin has carried out on countless occasions.

Yet this time, Irwin, ever so careful around danger, was taken unawares when, apparently, a sting ray he was filming struck out with its tail, the venomous barbs fatally embedding in his chest.

The death brought to an end a career that began with his father's Sunshine Coast theme park and developed into an international empire in which Irwinwas a globally recognised brand.

Working with his American-born wife Terri, and later, children his Bindi and Bob, the Irwin phenomenon continued to grow.

He was as recognised in the USA as he was here, and was one of the best-known Australians on the planet.

Irwin's catchcry "Crikey!" also became famous as he came face to fang with animals across the globe, the knockabout Australian in khakis delighting audiences in how he survived encounter after encounter. Irwin's fame was legendary - one story related to staff at a US studio headquarters who had become completely blase about stars in their presence - until Irwin turned up.

Then, the story went, whole floors of the building emptied as the staff headed for Irwin to shake his hand and get his autograph.

The high profile also brought with it some downsides - Irwin was astonished and hurt when he was criticised for taking his baby son Bob into a crocodile enclosure during one of his shows. The incident, which captured worldwide headlines, led to a slight dulling of Irwin's star but his popularity recovered. Irwin's face was important to Australian tourism and his image was used by the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service to stress the importance of protecting Australia.

He also campaigned to protect crocodiles, the creature that made him legendary, after the Northern Territory government proposed a resumption of croc hunting in the top end.

 


89 posted on 09/03/2006 9:57:07 PM PDT by bd476
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To: Wormwood

Yup. A few years back some gal here in the PNW died skydiving. It was her 106th jump.

Chute didn't open and backup failed.


90 posted on 09/03/2006 9:57:27 PM PDT by djf (Some people say we evolved. I say "Some did, some didn't!")
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To: Jorge

He loved what he did and loved to entertain.
It is like having the Red Skeleton of the Animal Entertainment world passing away from a tragedy at an early age IMO.


91 posted on 09/03/2006 9:57:27 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: Wormwood

I thought he was crazy. I'm surprised it took this long. It's sad for his family. They probably thought he was invincible.


92 posted on 09/03/2006 9:58:14 PM PDT by Moonman62 (The issue of whether cheap labor makes America great should have been settled by the Civil War.)
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To: StarFan; Dutchy; alisasny; BobFromNJ; BUNNY2003; Cacique; Clemenza; Coleus; cyborg; DKNY; ...
ping

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.

93 posted on 09/03/2006 9:59:05 PM PDT by nutmeg (National security trumps everything else.)
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To: George W. Bush
After someone's dead, then people want to pretend it was all somehow unfair that someone got killed. I suppose it helps absolve them of their involvement in the performer's demise.

You're assuming an awful lot, there, FRiend. Some of us, like myself, simply admired his love of what he did, and while it was inevitable that something like this would happen, we still hate to see that it did. Please try to break through some of that cynicism.

94 posted on 09/03/2006 10:01:00 PM PDT by SlowBoat407 (I've had it with these &%#@* jihadis on these &%#@* planes!)
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To: aruanan

Actually, they seem curious, I've never heard of one being aggressive unless threatened. I suspect Steve may have swum over one while it was resting on the bottom, or buried in sand, and it reacted on reflex. They are not vicious critters.


95 posted on 09/03/2006 10:02:09 PM PDT by SWAMPSNIPER
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To: lunarbicep

Very sad. I have actually been to Port Douglas. Very beautiful. And clearly very dangerous animals too.


96 posted on 09/03/2006 10:02:10 PM PDT by Names Ash Housewares
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To: jimbo123; A CA Guy; flaglady47
jimbo123 wrote: "Apparently his wife doesn't know yet. She's climbing a mountain somewhere."

Oh I hope that they would not have released this story before contacting his wife. The Irwins carry satellite phones with them wherever they go.

97 posted on 09/03/2006 10:02:24 PM PDT by bd476
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To: Jorge

The more this sinks in, the more it upsets me. Steve Irwin was a one of kind and will be greatly missed


I do not hollar " wow" enough to wake my child very often...
May God bless him, and I give thanks for us all having known his courage ;)


98 posted on 09/03/2006 10:03:25 PM PDT by Nothometoday
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To: Moonman62

Whatever. I stay away from all marine invertebrates!!

I saw a huge horseshoe crab on the beach in Cape Cod. About as unwordly enough as anything!

So I stay away from the beach. And the crabs. And the poisonous, dart throwing murdering mussels.


99 posted on 09/03/2006 10:04:08 PM PDT by djf (Some people say we evolved. I say "Some did, some didn't!")
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To: SWAMPSNIPER
Actually, they seem curious, I've never heard of one being aggressive unless threatened.

Have you ever watched this guy in action? I'd be amazed if he didn't swim over and poke the ray in the eye to "get 'er cranky"

100 posted on 09/03/2006 10:04:14 PM PDT by Wormwood (Everybody lies, but it doesn't matter because nobody listens.)
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