Steve Irwin, R.I.P.

Stingray kills ‘Crocodile Hunter’

Steve Irwin, the Australian TV presenter known as the “Crocodile Hunter,” has died after being stung in a marine accident off Australia’s north coast.

Australian media reports say Irwin was diving in waters off Port Douglas, north of Cairns, when the incident happened on Monday morning.

Irwin was killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest, according to Cairns police sources. Irwin was filming an underwater documentary at the time.

Ambulance officers confirmed they attended a reef fatality Monday morning off Port Douglas, according to Australian media.

Queensland Police Services also confirmed Irwin’s death and said his family had been notified. Irwin, 44, was director of the Australian Zoo in Queensland.

He is survived by his American-born wife Terri and their two children, Bindi Sue, born 1998, and Robert (Bob), born December 2003.

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I hardly know what to say about the above news report.  I was never a big fan of “Steve Irwin, TV personality”, but I was a huge fan of “Steve Irwin, wildlife conservationist and animal lover”.  I’d watch the Crocodile Hunter Diaries show on Animal Planet regularly, and I loved the behind-the-scenes look at Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo, and the people who work there.  I was pretty excited about a year ago when it was announced that Irwin was planning to build a zoo here in Las Vegas, and I thought it would be an incredible place to work.  Steve Irwin just seemed so indestructible, and his death in a freak accident hardly seems real.  I’m sure his wife, kids, and friends will carry on his legacy.

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To lighten the mood a bit, here’s a transcript of a great interview with Steve and Terri Irwin, and I think it captures a lot of what made Steve so full of life: Enough Rope.  I’ll admit I didn’t understand all of it, as it was full of wacky Aussie lingo, but other parts of it were very funny.

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 09/03 at 08:00 PM

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  1. I always thought he was incredibly irresponsible and am so not surprised he’s dead.

    I do feel for his wife and kids. It’s too bad he won’t be around to see them grow up.

    Posted by Nio  on  09/04  at  04:13 AM

  2. *I’ve* been swimming with stingrays, too - it’s a common tourist activity in the Caribbean, and incredibly beautiful and exciting.  I even had a “stingray hickey”—they grab onto your legs and suck.  Stingrays are harmless 99% of the time (they only sting when frightened, usually when stepped on by an unwary swimmer), so whatever happened to Steve Irwin was an odd and rare occurrence.  For me, my stingray experience talk me to respect them but not fear them, and reminded me how beautiful the oceans are, and I think that’s a good lesson.

    I’ve never seen Irwin as irresponsible, just as someone with a love of life and a love of experiences, (much like Jeff Corwin).  He was so close to his daughter, and I know this will be especially hard on her.

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  09/04  at  05:33 AM

  3. Sad, what an odd and maybe fitting way for him to go - at least he was doing what he really wanted to do?
    I’ve swum around stingrays too, but not really big ones. I actually had no idea they could actually kill someone.

    Posted by Carina  on  09/04  at  06:01 AM

  4. He was such a showman. That’s what got the public attention to his good works. He was unique and he will be sorely missed.

    Posted by jan  on  09/04  at  12:12 PM

  5. I was shocked and saddened to learn of Steve’s death.  His enthusiasm and love for his work and the animals was always so apparent.

    Posted by Coll  on  09/05  at  05:26 PM
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