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 have seen this gentleman on the Animal Planet channel. He was so talented and strong; he must have forgotten his limitation regarding danger out of the blue. Such a horrible tragedy!
is it wall to wall ?We have it at the top of most news casts in California
Thanks for posting this article. A link to it had been provided on another thread, but my browser locked up every time I tried to follow.
i think we know more than enough now and it's time to let his family and Australia and all his fans around the world mourn without any sensationalism.
Was this guy also on TV in Australia too?
No apologies needed. I was a bit sad upon hearing about this myself. At least on TV he seemed like a genuinely good guy who loved what he was into.
No problem: he'll be missed up here as well.
Steve will be greatly missed all over the world. He seemed invincible. It's a great loss.
Marlin Perkins? Jim?!!! Jack Hannah?
Marlin Perkins? Jim?!!! Jack Hannah?
Its big news here too. Lots of coverage on the national networks. Not quite the hero that he is back home, but still a well known figure in a tragic death. Very sad, he has such a wonderful family. My prayers go out to them.
Yes, it is big. Practically everyone in the US knows the name Steve Erwin. But as shocking as his death is, his death doesn't come as a huge surprise. For years people have watched him grab the most dangerous animals in the world and it was only a matter of time before the animal got the best of him. RIP Steve.
I was thinking on that this afernoon.
I felt the same way I did with Steve when I heard of the death of Jimmy Stewart.
I know they were a world apart and Jimmy lived a full life, but it was the way that they both lived it that makes me sad to see them no longer with us.
My kids loved Steve.... and all of the antics and humor.
If imitation is the highest form of flattery -- you should know my teens can imitate his voice perfectly... and held great respect for his special talents and love of animals.
All of our hearts and prayers are with the Irwin family and our Aussie friends during this time of loss and grief.
It's big here too, AD.
First thing I saw this morning when I turned on CNN was "Breaking: Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin dead."
It was the lead item on the NBC evening network news and has been on the news all day.
He was very well known in the US.
"Animals are little people with furs."
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