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 ...
Pretty big here in the states. They've been running Crocodile Hunter reruns, and especially candid interviews done a few years ago of Steve Irwin, his fast mate Wes, wife Terri, his father, and the rest of his crew all day on Animal Planet, including one from 2000 that included his lovely mother Lyn whom he adored and was crushed at the loss of her when she died in a car crash.
Yeah, pulling the barb out does more damage than when it penetrates into the skin, as it rips apart the soft tissue.
I've heard those barbs can cut into a 1/4 inch thick piece of plywood with ease.
That was actually on CNN. The question was asked by that cookie-cutter asshat who used to be on MSNBC.
It's big everywhere. What a horrible, shocking loss.
I think a state funeral is more than appropriate, it's deserved. Steve was Australia's goodwill ambassador to the world.
Doubt it. The film is in police custody.
Which incidently, that anchor apologized to the guy for Steve's death, but he didn't apologize to the guy for asking such a stupid, heartless question.
The world mourns with you. Steve was a one of a kind guy, and such a great representative of all things Australian. My prayers go out for his wife and children.
I am not an Aussie, but I was really saddened by this news.
I am not even a big fan of Irwin's, but when I heard about it I couldn't stop thinking about it.
He was just so full of life, and so in love with what he did, that he did seem bigger than life.
You guys have lost a really great guy. I feel so bad for his wife and kids.
I am at a loss, I can't believe how this has affected me.
Well what, really, is the difference between Steve Irwin and Timothy Treadwell?
Basically that the latter had a deep - if childish and misguided - wonder at the variety and power of nature and a determination to be an intimate part of it, while the former had a deep - if childish an misguided - fascination with the variety and the power of nature, and a determination to put himself above it.
I agree. The guy had incredible courage (and was able to get by the "yuck factor" of picking up snakes, etc.) but there is an old saying, "If you mess with the bull, you better expect the horns." The odd thing is that the stingray isn't particularly malevolent or anti-social like some of the critters he would handle. He'll be missed, but it was a matter of time in his line of work.
I probably didn't explain it the way that he said it. I got the impression that he was saying the blood filled the sac around the heart and stop his heart from beating because the pressure from the blood filled sac would cause the heart to stop since it didn't have any room to beat.
Ah yes, I get my channels confused. I saw a lot of really bad interviewing related to this story yesterday :~)
Stingrays skeer me. I have caught em as big as the hood of a full sized truck. I no likey even out of the water. Nasty primitive critters. They'll be fished hard now. Talk about a tackle wrecker.
This guy got cold cocked by nature. Will the people around him swear the stingray saw a shark and was just trying to protect Steve?
I don't think they'll necessarily fish them hard because of this, and I know Steve would find that really distressing. But they are a creepy looking fish :~) - Except when they're moving, they're beautiful in 'flight'.
I don't know what goofy people will say, I usually leave them to say it before I guess. :~)
I was poking fun at the dumb comments after the performer in LV got half eaten by a tiger. Some suggested the Tiger was just a little too rough in protecting the guy. Uh huh.
So sorry to see this. "The Crocodile Hunter" had reached iconic level in the U.S. in recent years and was featured or spoofed on various television shows including "South Park." He is part of American culture as well as that of other countries. He will be missed, but he will be remembered.
I agree, that was goofy :~)
It's terrible what happened, but I think Steve Irwin would've wanted to go out doing the thing he loved. I'm definately gonna miss him. My prayers go out to his family.
It is big in the US as well...lead story on major network news yesterday and the first topic of conversation with eveyone I encountered yesterday while on holiday, and again today at work.
You will see a few postings by the pee-on-any-parade bunch, but all in all, he was very well liked and respected here, and throughout the world.
But beyond his fame, the sadness most feel for his family is first in our thoughts now.
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