Croc Hunter killed by stingray

I didn't know where else to put this, but I thought people might want to know if they don't already.

http://www.cnn.com/

Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, was killed by a stingray barb while he was diving, during a documentary film project.

http://www.cairnsnewspapers.com.au/localnews/detail.asp?aid=304

I know he took a lot of chances in his work, but I guess I always thought he was immortal. He was only 44.

I just read the same horrible new.The world have lost a big enviromentalist and a great human and a animal lover extraodinaire.
Janett

It was hard to believe it when I first read it.

I wanted to add the Wikipedia link, which is pretty comprehensive.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Irwin

I can't believe it, either.

I guess I always thought he was immortal or at least blessed with excellent good luck and with his knowledge and skills would be protected...

I spent many happy hours watching his amazing show when my kids were little.

He was an exceptional ambassador for the growing appreciation of wildlife and also for Australia. I will really miss him.

Hubby called to tell me about this a little bit ago. It's kind of one of those things were you thought it would never happen or wondered when it would.

Exactly, Badseed - "you thought it would never happen or wondered when it would" And in reading the info posted online, apparently it is rare to be killed by a stingray, but this barb went between his ribs and directly into his heart. That was too much to withstand. He will be missed by many.

I was shocked to see this in our newspaper this morning. Steve Irwin did so much to teach respect and appreciation for all living creatures. What a sad loss this is. My heart goes out to his young family.

Crikey! I still can't believe it.

X

Wow. I thought, and hoped this was a joke. I'm very sorry and totally shocked! I guess I thought he was too tough to die.

Amazing how anyone's life can be changed in just a moment. I really feel for his wife and kids, and him so young.

Thanks for letting us know.

Maureen

We definately lost a great speaker for those who can't speak for themselves......

Thank you for posting this, white.


Rhonda

My husband heard a blurb on the radio the other day where Stever Irwin reportedly said "I hope I die doing this and I hope someone catches it on tape." I guess if you have to go, it would be great to go doing something you love.

I agree, bad....one of the first things I thought about when I heard that. Me....I hope they find me out in my beautiful (it's gotta be beautiful, I dont want to expire in weeds....lol) garden somewhere, with a water hose in my hand.....lol.

My husband heard the same blurb, about his death being caught on tape....and he said he wanted it shown so people could learn.

I don't think that part is right, especially his children will eventually see it.

Amazing as Steve was, he pulled the barb out of his chestwall before he died.

He was just so incredibly full of life, it's just hard to believe that that life has been snuffed out so suddenly.

I never believed a croc would get him. He knew crocs too well. But I guess this was a pretty bizarre accident, the barb getting under the rib to stab him in the heart.

Actually, I think they should show the footage. But maybe not now, and they should be sensitive in how they do it, so it doesn't smack of sensationalism.

Very sad. When I first heard that he was killed, I knew it had
to be an encounter with something, but assumed it would have
been a croc.

Very sad.

He just seemed to love everything about life; his career and family. I thought he was very wacky but enjoyed him alot. He seemed larger than life. My prayers go out to his family. His children are adorable, especially his daughter, Bindi.

Susan

There was an interview yesterday, I think on MSN by one of his friends. They said if Steve was killed, they knew it would be in the ocean, because so much was unpedictiable there and he would be limited to his movement to escape an encounter.

It is all just too sad. I feel stupid to have the death of him upset me so bad, but he was very entertaining and educational to my kids and our entire family.

Debbie, don't be so hard on yourself. It is refreshing when one can empathize and sympathize with another person's loss, grief and/or pain. Even for such an animated character as he, his family must be enduring sheer agony and grief with their unexpected and horrific loss .

I only caught his show a few times but sure appreciated the conservation efforts and educational fun he gave to the world! When my DH woke on Monday and was checking the news on the internet he said...hey you know that Steve Irwin guy? I came running from the bathroom and said, "Oh no....don't tell me...he died!?" I just knew it....and yet you did expect him to be immortal. I think his greatest lesson would be to not have fear in life. He didn't have fear....died far to young...but I bet he'd tell you he enjoyed every second of it.

Wanted to add....heard the autopsy said he died from loss of blood and that the poison injected by a stingray is really so mild that it was not the stingray's poison that killed him.

I would guess that he bled out within seconds.

If there's any small comfort to be had, he died quickly and probably without much pain after the initial stab. And he did die doing what he loved.

I may have read/seen the same thing, where they said that stingray toxin can kill but it's usually pretty slow.

My dh said he was out of his elements in the water, your reactions arent the same as on land. The water slows down your movements so much!!! sad sad sad :(
He will be missed so so much here in our hearts and our home!
What a great guy he was, always made me smile when he would say- Crikies did you see the teeth on that girl-shes beautiful,, as it just tried to snap his head off!!!!!!! He rocked and was the BEST.

miss you CrockHunter!

One thing I'm glad to see, is that the media are pretty much leaving Terri and the kids alone. Often the paparazzi are so intrusive and rude that you just want to smack them, but they're giving the Irwin family some respectful distance. That's a good thing.

We heard that it was the fact he pulled it out that killed him, because of the jagged edges, not the entrance but the exit and they do have it on tape.

Reports are coming in now of killed stingrays washing up on Australian shores, some with their tails lopped off. Speculation is that fans of Steve Irwin are out for revenge.

While I can understand how they feel, I agree with some of the people quoted -- Steve loved all critters, the good, the bad, and the ugly. He wouldn't want the stingrays to be killed, not out of revenge, or misguided loyalty, or any other reason.

I miss him too as we watched his adventures with much thrill and fascination on TV. Sunday, Animal Planet Channel was paying tribute to Steve with all the serials, his family, his dog Sui..... it is so shocking. One paper headlined "he died the way he lived... dangerously" The world will miss Steve forever as there was just one Steve Irwin. He was ever smiling and the twinkle in his sharp eyes was a real joy to behold along with his narration, live.

Dinu

So sad! And this morning on tv news what his little girl gave talk for her father a poem so beautiful it got me tear my eyes see his wife and a son there too. I feel so bad for his family and lots friends.