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 ...
Perhaps... but there's no denying that TV producers like to amp-up the danger factor to sell the program. I would think that Steve Irwin took all reasonable precautions (many of which were probably just off-camera).
Yeah, tough choice. One thing, however: the stingrays barb is 'coated' with slimey proteins which are the neuro-toxins. No pumping necessary -- it's like a poison arrow.
This particular stingray has a multiple barbed tail. Not likely the critter could have pulled it out without breaking it -- especially if reports are correct about the depth & location of the stab.
How oculd anyone have the strength to pull that out when it went through their heart? That must have hurt like hell and possibly (?) iniated the heart failure?
I also could have sworn I heard his friend say that he didn't pull it out. Was that AFTER he viewed the video?
File this under, "Mess with the bull, get the horn..."
I'm not familiar with Timothy Treadwell.
That's a valid point. I guess my point was that he took risks, and maybe the percentages finally caught up with him. He was one entertaining and likeable fellow. I am so saddended by his death. You are probably right that the danger was amplified onscreen.
The guy who got eaten by the bear.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Treadwell
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