Steve Irwin "Crocodile Hunter" Killed by Stingray

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launderess

launderess

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Steve Irwin, the passionate conservationist who shot to international fame as the Crocodile Hunter, was killed today in a freak accident while diving off the north Queensland coast.
In a bitter irony, the man who risked his life handling one of the world's most dangerous reptiles was mortally wounded by a stingray, a usually passive sea creature which attacks only if threatened. Irwin, 44, was stung in the chest by the stingray's barbed tail, which whips up in a reflex action. The accident happened while he was filming a TV documentary called Oceans' Deadliest at Batt Reef, near Port Douglas

http://www.guardian.co.uk/australia/story/0,,1864565,00.html
 
A real shock to hear this

Yes Laundress,
I heard this on the radio news service while at work today and I just cannot believe it.He was a real larrikin and knockabout type of fellow,who despite his funny way of explaining things,was a deeply committed conservationist as you have already mentioned and he will be sadly missed by many of we Australians.
I dare say the real tragedy is now his 2 children aged just 8 and 3 will grow up without their dad.
I hope his family can find some sort of comfort from the love and well wishes of most Australians and I guess mant people from all over the world
 
I'm very sorry to hear this. It's very sad indeed.

But the funny thing is. I always laughed and said, "Someday, some snake or something is going to kill him". Me and my friend used to call him the "Coullion" (Cajun french for "stupid").

But all kidding aside, let us send thoughts, prayers and blessings to his family and friends.
 
I was awoken this morning by the news segment on "Imus in the Morning" and had to rouse myself to turn on the TV to make sure it hadn't been part of a dream. I'm so saddened by the news as I enjoyed watching him, but I can't help but feel that this was probably the way he would have wanted to go out, albeit not so soon. I feel sad for his family, he probably was a great husband and father.

Pulsatron, what's a "larrikin"?
 
We'll miss you Steve....

I was shocked and saddened to hear of the untimely death of Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. We have been fans of Steve and Terri for many years. Hayley even dressed up as Steve (complete with fake Python) for Halloween. We have their videos as well as the Crocodile Hunter game, with an animated Agro the croc. Our dream was to someday vacation in Australia and visit their zoo.

Of course, we always watched the show on Animal Planet. The funniest show was when Steve attempted to sing "There's a Redback (spider) on the Toilet Seat"! We ran around singing that one forever! The saddest moment was when Steve had to put his beloved dog, Suey, to sleep. We all had tears streaming down our faces as we watched Steve say good bye.

This is a loss for Australia, mankind, and the animal kingdom. Steve and Terri Irwin have done more to educate people and promote respect and conservation for the creatures that share our world. I hope that his familiy carries on his legacy.

Venus :-)
 
It is sad, but....

I don't understand why anyone is surprised.

This guy took incredible risks...ran right up to the edge with these animals. This reminds me of Joy Admundson (sp?) who played with the tigers all the time...(people saying, look, how cute!) until one day they weren't so cute and ate her alive.

Or the guy who wanted to befriend all those bears in Alaska and the bears really liked him...as their lunch. Or that lion tamer in Vegas.

These are ANIMALS. Hell, the guy teased a gator WITH HIS BABY. He and his family have my sympathies, but certaintly not my shock or surprise.
 
This reminds me of Joy Admundson (sp?) who played with the tigers all the time...(people saying, look, how cute!) until one day they weren't so cute and ate her alive.

Her name was Joy Adamson and her interest were lions, not tigers. She was murdered by one of her employees. Her husband also met a terrible fate, being murdered by poachers in the area where they worked.
 
My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends!

I heard the sad news when I got up this morning. Although I agree that this is probably the way that he would want to go, it's just so sad that it happened much too soon. The world has lost a great human being. I hope that he didn't suffer.

Mike
 
Yes, Joy Adamson was the woman whose research and adventures with Elsa the lioness were chronicled in "Born Free". I knew she was murdered, but had assumed it was by African poachers, not by an employee.

While there is such unbelievable risk associated with working with wild animals, it is still a shock when these dedicated people are killed by the very things they are trying to protect and educate us about.

We were just talking with a friend about Stingray injuries. We have a lot of them in Coastal Texas. If you step on one, its reflex is to fling that barbed tail at the perceived predator. We have always been taught to shuffle in shallow water, rather than stomp. This way, you may just touch the edge of the stingray to where it will swim off, instead of stomping it squarely on its back and getting barbed. He said that this was the most excruciatingly painful thing he has ever endured (and this is one tough guy). In Steve Irwin's case, the barbed tail made its way between his ribs and hit him directly in the heart. The cause of death was probably the toxin as well as the injury to the heart itself. So sad....

Venus
 
I woke up to this earlier today. I have my TV set so that it automatically comes on in the morning as an alarm; and as they were covering it on GMTV just as I was waking up I wasn't sure whether it was a dream or not. It's a shame to see such a great conservatonist and lover of wildlife die like that; however at least he died in style doing something he enjoyed. Perhaps it was foolish or whatever but we all must remember that the work he was doing isn't done by many other people in this world. He is truly a unique person. Controversial; but who's to say controversial is bad.

RIP Steve Irwin. (Who was literally, ripped).

Jon
 
That is sad news, especially since he left behind his wife and kids. I used to LOVE to watch his show on Animal Planet when I was 9-10 years old. He will be missed by all.
 
It's kind of hard to believe that anyone would harbor a grudge against Steve Irwin. He was a inexhuastible bundle of positive energy. Well, I guess if all you wanted to do was relax and medidate, he could be annoying. But even at his most hyper on talk shows I've seen him be able to quiet right down, listen, and answer questions intelligently.

It does sound like this was a freak accident, and that Irwin wasn't trying to pull some sort of a stunt.
 
I stand corrected...

Joy Adamson was initially reported as mauled by lions, which is the story that I always remembered. Subsequent investigations led to a guy being arrested for her murder.

http://www.who2.com/mauledbylions.html
I am not the only one mistaken by the old story...it still surfaces:

http://www.bigcats.org/abc/captivity/bornfree.html
I don't care if they are lions, tigers, or whatever. Wild animals are exactly that, and no amount of humanizing them or letting your awe overwhelm your common sense will change that.
 
Other Jason:

I used to say the exact same thing. It seems that man was a tragedy waiting to happen. But he at least got to die doing what he loved.
 
Must say find this "he had it coming" attitude towards a recently deceased person in rather poor taste.

Who is to say what is "dangerous" or not? Hmmm? Men are creatures of risk, and without some of them this and the risks they took this world would be a very sorry plance indeed.

If a man likes to drive fast at the races, should he deserve to die in a car crash? If a man happens to like being in the military, should he deserve to be shot at?

Mr. Irwin died doing something he was passionate about, and that passion translated into a wealth of knowledge about animals that will be his legacy. So the man took risks? What of it? At least Mr. Irwin went to his grave knowing he made a difference in this world, something that rarely happens to those that play things safe. Now is the time for celebrating an extraordinary life, and a bit of greiving for a widow and her children without their father. It tis not the time for "well he never would be told" .

L.
 
Of course I deeply regret his death, but taking into account his way of living, Mr. Irving died of "natural causes".
 
Contrary to popular belief, Steve Irwin did not dangle his son as "bait" for a crocodile. He held him tightly while feeding a croc. Now this may seem unconventional and lacking common sense to most of us, but you must keep in mind that he was raised around crocodiles, and his father probably did the same thing to him when he was a lad. Even though the media would like to think so, this does not even compare to that one man freak show, Michael Jackson, who carelessly hung his infant son over a balcony like a bag of potatoes in the name of publicity. It was in their blood. It was their life's work.

They never treated these animals as pets. They were respected for what they were; wild animals. Unfortunately, from what I am hearing, he swam over the stingray and didn't even touch it. It was a careless move which cost him his life.

I agree with Sudsmaster and Laundress. There was nothing not to like about Steve Irwin, and saying he had it coming, or they knew it was going to happen is sad and undeserving.

Venus
 
stingrayxr7.jpg
 
I was sorry to hear this horrible news, such a sad thing for his young family. alr2903
 
Steve Irwin

Wow... I never realised how Steve and his antics had obtained such high exposure in the US and beyond..... He will be very sadly missed by all of us... he was a complete animal saviour!. We have met him a couple of times, even sat next to him on a flight from Melboure to Maroochydore... he was a total gentleman.... If you are ever in Australia, you MUST make every attempt to visit his zoo located in the hinterland of ths Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Its is a BRILLIANT hands on Aussie wildlife experience. Steve you are magic person & you will ALWAYS be fondly remembered CRIKEY!!!!!

http://www.crocodilehunter.com/australia_zoo/index.html
 
Retromom, I disagree.

I just saw that video today. He had the baby in his left arm while he fed the crock with his right. Then, unbelievably, he "walked" the infant on the edge of the water a few feet from the croc. The croc appeared to be facing away, but my God.

If that is not dangling a kid in front of croc and endangering him, I don't know what is.
 
im with Kevin. would I run down stairs/drive drunk/roller skate/walk thru lightning storm with an infant in my arms? NO! the baby could get hurt! thats not to say he wasnt an excellent entertainer, or a kind person.
 

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