Posted on 09/04/2006 6:50:04 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
FATALLY injured by a stingray, Steve Irwin pulled its barb out of his chest before losing consciousness, dramatic footage of his last moments reveals.
Friend John Stainton said the footage of the stingray attack which took the life of the Crocodile Hunter on the Great Barrier Reef yesterday was "shocking".
Mr Irwin, 44, died after the stingray barb punctured his chest while snorkelling off Port Douglas, in far north Queensland, yesterday.
A cameraman captured the incident during filming for Irwin's new project with daughter Bindi, eight, that was to debut in the United States next year.
"I did see the footage and it's shocking," Mr Stainton said today in Cairns.
"It's a very hard thing to watch because you're actually witnessing somebody die ... and it's terrible."
Mr Stainton, also a producer and director of Irwin's popular television shows, said the footage showed Mr Irwin pulling the barb out of his chest before losing consciousness.
"It shows that Steve came over the top of the ray and the tail came up, and spiked him here (in the chest), and he pulled it out and the next minute he's gone.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
I saw some footage today of Steve with whales and going woohoo. All of a sudden I was struck with the image of John Denver and Jacques Cousteau aboard the Calypso. And yes, they do look alike.
We are all sad. Steve was very special, one of a kind.
I was trying to think of an American counterpart, and I can't really think of one.
In one way, he was ultimately macho. I mean the guy jumped into rivers at night on top of crocodiles. You don't get more macho than that. Then, you'd see him crying over the loss of his dog, or moved to tears while holding his daughter. I think the thing that made him unique is that most people who do the crazy stuff he did would be people you'd be scared would beat you up in an alley. Irwin, though, if you saw him on the street, you'd want to run up and say hi, because you already felt like he was your friend. My condolences to the great country of Australia on this day. Thanks for sharing him with us for the last ten years.
Well put :~)
Well, I didn't have any attachment to JFK Jr either. I was just thinking about the overall shock effect on the general public, and the media reaction.
For me personally, my biggest "celebrity loss" was when Stevie Ray Vaughan was killed.
seems to me the "he" in the sentence was referencing the sting ray. as in, the sting ray pulled the barb out and was gone. not sure.
It's been pretty big here in the States today, too. All the cable stations have tribute programs.
Irwin was absolutely fearless. I saw him get on all fours and stare down an Australian Brown (one of the most deadly snakes on earth), with his face mere inches from the head of the snake.
Reminds me of a movie I saw during a college course about the use of snakes in a church service, where the church-goers tossed Eastern Diamondbacks back and forth to each other. The pastor was bitten by one of the snakes -- his hand swelled up like a balloon -- and he said, "I must have sinned this week". The professor commented, "His sin was picking up those rattlesnakes".
Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Now that was more shocking than JFK, Jr.
I seem to recall a few years back that Steve was not rather well-liked in Australia, but it seems that all changed in recent years.
He was never disliked in Australia, it was just America discovered him before we did!
I see. I think opening his zoo down there probably brought him more recognition down there than even his shows did.
This loss was a 'punch in the gut' for a lot of us here in the US as well, he probably was the most famous Aussie in this decade at least.
This is just horrible. I feel so sorry for his wife and daughters, and those he worked with.
Dr. Michael Boden (forensic pathologist) said that by Steve pulling the barb out he probably bled to death. He also said that it was just normal instinct to pull something like the barb out when he was struck. He said that he could probably have survived the toxins. That most likely the sac around the heart filled up with blood and his heart didn't have room to beat.
It is so sad especially for his family. He will truly be missed.
A paper should not print a story like this if it isn't true, enough sadness for the family already!
May Steve rest in peace and God bring comfort and healing to his family.
I think everyone who watched his show in the states couldn't help but like Steve. His show was one a family could sit down & watch together without worrying about a cuss word flying in the kids ears!
We're in shock here in the States, too. It's been over 24 hours and nobody in our media has blamed George W. Bush yet for this. That must be a record.
Beautiful photo.
Beautiful family.
RIP, Steve, the world will miss you.
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