Irwin death tape 'should be destroyed'

news.com.au ^ | 6 September 2006 | Peter Mitchell

[Aussie Dasher]

THE footage of Steve Irwin's death should be destroyed, his manager and friend John Stainton said today.

"I would never want that tape shown," Stainton told CNN talk show host Larry King.

"It should be destroyed.

"At the moment it is in police custody for evidence. There's a coroner's inquest taking place at the moment.

"When that is finally released it will never see the light of day.

"Never. Ever.

"I actually saw it and I don't want to see it again."

Irwin, 44, died on Monday when stabbed in the chest by a stingray barb while snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef and Stainton has said footage of the incident is "terrible".

The footage shows Irwin pulling the barb out of his chest before dying.

While Stainton wants the footage kept under wraps, media experts say it may soon be circulating on the internet.

"The key point is once there's something on film, it's impossible to keep it contained," Paul Levinson, chairman of Fordham University's Department of Communication and Media Studies, said.

Mr Stainton, who broke down several times during the CNN interview, said Irwin's wife, Terri, was struggling with her husband's death.

When King asked a teary Stainton how Terri was doing, Mr Stainton replied: "A lot worse than me".

Mr Stainton told how he travelled with Irwin's body in a caske

[isthisnickcool]

I could watch Irwin's death on video. I've seen some pretty nasty things (not by choice) in real life (death) so seeing him die on video would not be pleasant but I could watch it.

With that said I want the tape destroyed. Why? Irwin was a hero to many children. I'd prefer that they not even have the chance to see the tape.

[pnz1]

This is an excerpt from an article in the Daily Star from the UK. Don't know how accurate it is?

"But it is understood Steve’s family have vowed to grant the real-life Crocodile Dundee his "dying wish".

Steve famously said: "My number one rule is to keep that camera rolling. Even if it’s shaky or slightly out of focus, I don’t give a rip!

"Even if a big big old alligator is chewing me up I want to go down and go, ‘Crikey!’ just before I die. That would be the ultimate for me."

[Mad Dawgg]

"I agree, no good could come from its being broadcast. "

Well I don't know about what good it will do being boradcast but the story of his death has convinced me not to swim near stringrays.

So who knows maybe showing it on TV would save someone's life by showing what "can" happen when you get to close to a Ray.

[laxcoach]

When I was in college, some of my roommates were into "faces of death." They are guys' guys and they were/are good people.

I never understood the fascination with those videos. I watched about 2 minutes of 1 and decided that they were probably fakes (I hoped) and regardless it seemed disgusting and morbid.

The only reason I would ever want to see Irwin's video is to see what a "defensive" stingray looks like. I fish/dive a lot. In South FL you don't see stingrays that big and I know I wouldn't antagonize one. If we did have them, I would want to know what a p*ssed stingray looked like. If I needed to see it, I would be fine cutting it just before the strike itself.

That said, destroy it. Too many people find pleasure in something this terrible. Don't feed the devil.

[Al Simmons]

This is an excerpt from an article in the Daily Star from the UK. Don't know how accurate it is? "But it is understood Steve’s family have vowed to grant the real-life Crocodile Dundee his "dying wish". Steve famously said: "My number one rule is to keep that camera rolling. Even if it’s shaky or slightly out of focus, I don’t give a rip! "Even if a big big old alligator is chewing me up I want to go down and go, ‘Crikey!’ just before I die. That would be the ultimate for me."

Frankly, I don't give a 'rip' about that quote. He's gone and its not his decision. Its the impact of such a video on his kids (and millions of kids who are fans) that should be the only consideration. And I'd say they should never, ever have to suffer through watching that video.

[Richard Kimball]

Whenever someone healthy dies from a traumatic injury, you have to do an investigation. After that, the tape belongs to the family and the production company. I couldn't imagine them wanting it out, but it's their call.

It wouldn't bother me to see it, but I wouldn't seek it out.

[pnz1]

IMO, the original and only footage should be given to his family and the decision left to them as to what is done with it.

[stockstrader]

The public has absolutely no right to see the tape. It should be destroyed,,,or given to the family,,,whatever they prefer.

[Hatteras]

I have similar thoughts. We are close in age and I was always inspired by his zest for living. He wore his heart on his sleeve and his enthusiasm was intoxicating. Impressive to the end, under all that boyish charm, Steve Irwin was a man's man. Think about this for a minute, He was stabbed through the heart by an 8-inch barb and in a final act of defiance, he had the wherewithall to pull the barb out of his heart! Even with knowing the final tragic result, part of me would like to see that final act of brute courage.

Of course, the other, probably more sensible part of me says to let it be and just use my imagination...

Rest in Peace, Steve, others will carry the torch for wildlife conservation in your name. You can count on that.

[Clintonfatigued]

I say turn it over to his widow and let her decide what should be done with the tape.

[Rennes Templar]

"The barb struck him in the left front of the chest, goring a palm-sized hole in his heart".

That's a large hole. I thought the barb was smaller. No wonder he died quickly.

[Hatteras]

"Steve famously said: "My number one rule is to keep that camera rolling. Even if it’s shaky or slightly out of focus, I don’t give a rip!"

Off the subject slightly, and for a quick, light-hearted break, that reminds me of a story I heard Alice Cooper tell on the radio one night about filming a Midnight Special episode back in the day. He was writhing on the floor to one of his songs and had a few dancers dancing over him when he suddenly zigged and the girl over him zagged. She caught him right in the nose with her boot and blood gushed all over the place.

The director jumped in yelling "Cut, CUT!!"

Alice looked up and said,"Man, what're you doing?!"

The director told him, "We can't show that! That's real blood!"

Alic Cooper looked at him with this astonished look and said, "Dude, are you nuts?! You forget who you're dealing with here? I'm f*$%ing Alice Cooper!"

Anyway, sorry, back to the more serious subject at hand...

[Tall_Texan]

Anyone who might insist that the public has a right to see it is ghoulish.

Or Ogrish.

[Rte66]

I registered my opinion yesterday - that it should be left up to Terri. She would know whether his comments about having his death on film if he were killed by one of the wild animals he worked with was actually something he believed in within himself.

He was the one who said it would show the animal to be innocent, just doing what animals do.

I don't want the tape destroyed. I want it preserved, with the ending edited out, leaving the footage leading up to the attack, so that the idiots who would say forevermore that he provoked the sting ray, and/or that his friends and producer are covering up for him by saying he didn't, can see that it wasn't true.

The police released a statement today saying there was no provocation, but we've already seen how mean and nasty some people, even FReepers, can be.

Destroying it now is too hasty of a decision to make, because it can't be taken back. I have no desire to see anything after the ray's stinging spine slipping through its sheath, in slo-mo, no need to see it hit Irwin, unless in extreme CU of only a patch of skin, IF anything can be learned from it. I doubt I will ever watch it or see it, myself.

Let Terri decide, anyway.

[mom4kittys]

You said it all.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Steve may have left instructions if this sort of thing ever happened, that he would want ot showm. However, Steve had become family to many of us and there is no way I think I could watch a loved one's death. It would especially be terribly cruel for sweet little Bindi. I am tortured by the fact that she has lost her father. I really think she has Steve's "it" factor to carry on his legacy.So terrible for such a happy little girl to go through this.

[demonrum]

I can't remember where I read it, but if I remember correctly, he was pretty explicit with his cameramen over the years that if something happened to him they were to keep filming--as pointed out by a previous commentor, part of this was to show the animal in question was probably not at fault but they are indeed dangerous & anyone putting themselves in close contact is putting their lives in danger.

Only a small part of his life and work made it to the video screen, & by it's nature--through editing & music--& despite his frequent, conscientious disclaimers & warnings--it could often seem that the danger wasn't --well, all that dangerous, & his jolly enthusiasm sometimes made you forget that he was a trained professional with a lifetime of experience with the scars & broken bones to show for it.

I, personally, wouldn't watch the video if it became available (& I think it probably will). For one thing, I, to be honest, am pretty squeamish--but I believe it would have value as a cautionary tale similar to the brilliant "Grizzly Man" & the grisly driver's ed films most of us had to sit through.

I of course can't speak for him, his family, or friends, but judging by what I've read about him, it seems that he would want something like that out there to provide a more complete picture of the risks faced--even from something as (usually) relatively nonlethal stingray--in addition to the wealth of footage of when things went right.

[Dustbunny]

THE footage of Steve Irwin's death should be destroyed

Yes, it certainly should. We would never watch it.

[teenyelliott]

Why? Why do you want to watch him die?

[Al Simmons]

According to his manager this morning, who saw the tape, the whole thing lasts only 4-5 seconds before the cameraman turned off the camera and rushed to his aid. It was so quick that the cameraman didn't even realize that Steve had been hurt at first.

That said I second the motion that this thing never see the light of day.