Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin Killed TV Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin Killed by Stingray Barb in Diving Expedition BRISBANE, Australia Sep 4, 2006 (AP)— Steve Irwin, the Australian television personality and environmentalist known as the "Crocodile Hunter," was killed Monday by a stingray during a diving expedition, Australian media said. He was 44. Irwin was filming an underwater documentary on the Great Barrier Reef in northeastern Queensland state when the accident occurred, Sydney's The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on its Web site. The Australian Broadcasting Corp. said Irwin was diving near Low Isles near the resort town of Port Douglas, about 1,260 miles north of Brisbane. A helicopter carrying paramedics flew to the island, but he died from a stingray barb to the heart, ABC reported on its Web site. Telephone calls to Australia Zoo, Irwin's zoo in southern Queensland, were not immediately answered. Irwin is famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchcry "Crikey!" in his television program "Crocodile Hunter," which was first broadcast in Australia in 1992 and has aired around the world on the Discovery channel. He rode his image into a feature film, and developed the Australia Zoo as a tourist attraction. Irwin had received some negative publicity in recent years. In January 2004, he stunned onlookers at his Australia Zoo reptile park by carrying his 1-year-old son into a crocodile pen during a wildlife show. He tucked the infant under one arm while tossing the 13-foot reptile a piece of meat with the other. Authorities declined to charge Irwin for violating safety regulations. Later that year, he was accused of getting too close to penguins, a seal and humpback whales in Antarctica while making a documentary. Irwin denied any wrongdoing, and an Australian Environment Department investigation recommended no action be taken against him.
How sad. We lost someone who brought wild life right into our living room with his daring encounters with those reptiles. In many instances he was on the edge of petulance. But then, without petulance, TV ratings can never be sustainable.......I wonder. My deepest condolences to his family. His legacy will live on.
i just came back from school and saw this sad news on Yahoo....I was shocked and wanted to post a thread bout it on BC but found out tat some1 already made a thread bout it.... man.....I use to be a big fan of his....this is really unexpected....
Although it's a sad lost but i wouldnt say it's unexpected. He often went beyond his animal subject comfort zone (ie. teasing it) and really asking for it, in the name of tv rating and popularity. He is conveying to kids (and adults too) the wrong message, that wild animals are like toys. At one time he brought his young child into the croc pen for a feeding session. To be jabbed by a ray's barb, he was prolly hugging the ray.
This is really sad. What he did to educated the people about animals is good. In fact i've learned a great deal from his shows and even my visit to his Zoo in Aust. My condolences to his family. He will be greatly missed!
Its so sad that my first post back to BC after months of absense is to pay condolences to Stevie's family. I love his knowledge, his bravery and his showmanship. His personality never fail amaze me, I must admit my knowledge zoology comes mostly from him apart from the encyclopedia. I guess its the reruns that I'll have to follow from now on. May we be thankful for what he gave to the audience. Rest in peace Stevie, forgive that stringray.
guess what ppl? i jus found out tthat my sis in Melbourne saw it happened...well....she saw what happened after the incident....
No disrespect meant to any party, but I think Steve's reckless cowboy wild west style of going up close with animals as if they're fluffy toys did him in this time. You can only get so lucky and unfortunately sir, your time has run out Mr Irwin. May you enjoy eternal discussions with the big guy up in the big blue sky about the magnificent animals put on this planet.
Well i'm really still saddened by the news of his demise. I hope the family and the org will still continue his passion on educating people about animals.
There is truly some Horrid Irony to this event- just last night around the same time he was killed, I had ray for dinner... (Im not joking). He was my idol throughout my childhood, when I was in the 3rd grade my friends and I used to jump fences and climb trees like him... he even inspired my alias... "My heart has joined the thousand, for my friend stopped running today"
Steve Irwin, R.I.P. By BRIAN CASSEY, Associated Press Writer Mon Sep 4, 9:34 AM ET CAIRNS, Australia - Steve Irwin, the hugely popular Australian television personality and conservationist known as the "Crocodile Hunter," was killed Monday by a stingray while filming off the Great Barrier Reef. He was 44. Irwin was at Batt Reef, off the remote coast of northeastern Queensland state, shooting a segment for a series called "Ocean's Deadliest" when he swam too close to one of the animals, which have a poisonous barb on their tails, his friend and colleague John Stainton said. "He came on top of the stingray and the stingray's barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his heart," said Stainton, who was on board Irwin's boat at the time. Crew members aboard the boat, Croc One, called emergency services in the nearest city, Cairns, and administered CPR as they rushed the boat to nearby Low Isle to meet a rescue helicopter. Medical staff pronounced Irwin dead when they arrived a short time later, Stainton said. Irwin was famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchword "Crikey!" in his television program "Crocodile Hunter." First broadcast in Australia in 1992, the program was picked up by the Discovery network, catapulting Irwin to international celebrity. He rode his image into a feature film, 2002's "The Crocodile Hunters: Collision Course" and developed the wildlife park that his parents opened, Australia Zoo, into a major tourist attraction. "The world has lost a great wildlife icon, a passionate conservationist and one of the proudest dads on the planet," Stainton told reporters in Cairns. "He died doing what he loved best and left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind. He would have said, 'Crocs Rule!'" Prime Minister John Howard, who hand-picked Irwin to attend a gala barbecue to honor President Bush when he visited in 2003, said he was "shocked and distressed at Steve Irwin's sudden, untimely and freakish death." "It's a huge loss to Australia," Howard told reporters. "He was a wonderful character. He was a passionate environmentalist. He brought joy and entertainment and excitement to millions of people." Irwin, who made a trademark of hovering dangerously close to untethered crocodiles and leaping on their backs, spoke in rapid-fire bursts with a thick Australian accent and was almost never seen without his uniform of khaki shorts and shirt and heavy boots. Wild animal expert Jack Hanna, who frequently appears on TV with his subjects, offered praise for Irwin. "Steve was one of these guys, we thought of him as invincible," Hanna, director emeritus of the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo and Aquarium, told ABC's "Good Morning America" Monday. "The guy was incredible. His knowledge was incredible," Hanna said. "Some people that are doing this stuff are actors and that type of thing, but Steve was truly a zoologist, so to speak, a person who knew what he was doing. Yes, he did things a lot of people wouldn't do. I think he knew what he was doing." Irwin's ebullience was infectious and Australian officials sought him out for photo opportunities and to promote Australia internationally. His public image was dented, however, in 2004 when he caused an uproar by holding his infant son in one arm while feeding large crocodiles inside a zoo pen. Irwin claimed at the time there was no danger to the child, and authorities declined to charge Irwin with violating safety regulations. Later that year, he was accused of getting too close to penguins, a seal and humpback whales in Antarctica while making a documentary. Irwin denied any wrongdoing, and an Australian Environment Department investigation recommended no action be taken against him. Stingrays have a serrated, toxin-loaded barb, or spine, on the top of their tail. The barb, which can be up to 10 inches long, flexes if a ray is frightened. Stings usually occur to people when they step on or swim too close to a ray and can be excruciatingly painful but are rarely fatal, said University of Queensland marine neuroscientist Shaun Collin. Collin said he suspected Irwin died because the barb pierced under his ribcage and directly into his heart. "It was extraordinarily bad luck. It's not easy to get spined by a stingray and to be killed by one is very rare," Collin said. News of Irwin's death spread quickly, and tributes flowed from all quarters of society. At Australia Zoo at Beerwah, south Queensland, floral tributes were dropped at the entrance, where a huge fake crocodile gapes. Drivers honked their horns as they passed. "Steve, from all God's creatures, thank you. Rest in peace," was written on a card with a bouquet of native flowers. "We're all very shocked. I don't know what the zoo will do without him. He's done so much for us, the environment and it's a big loss," said Paula Kelly, a local resident and volunteer at the zoo, after dropping off a wreath at the gate. Stainton said Irwin's American-born wife Terri, from Eugene, Ore., had been informed of his death, and had told their daughter Bindi Sue, 8, and son Bob, who will turn 3 in December. The couple met when she went on vacation in Australia in 1991 and visited Irwin's Australia Zoo; they were married six months later. Sometimes referred to as the "Crocodile Huntress," she costarred on her husband's television show and in his 2002 movie.
