In remembrance of Steve Irwin

[gensolo]

heres the full story:

 

 

 

Stingray kills 'Crocodile Hunter' Irwin

 

 

 

By BRIAN CASSEY

 

Associated Press Writer

 

 

 

 

 

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'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin Killed

 

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CAIRNS, Australia (AP) -- 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."

 

 

 

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"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.

 

 

 

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On the Net:

 

 

 

http://www.crocodilehunter.com

 

 

 

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note by gensolo: this man was one of my heros he showed me how animals are, why we should treat thme nice, and what to be wary of. Australia and many people from around the world who looked up to this man like me will miss him and mourn for his family's loss. :pray: :cry: O:)

[1canadian1]

Watch CNN, He was doing the "most dangerous sea creatures in the world". But, the weather got bad so he did something with his daughter because they're filming they just went to normal sea creatures. Stingrays are usually at the bottom near the sand down there but I guess he went down to much. The leg of the stingray pierced and poisoned him in the heart, making an instant death.

[Bubsa]

I woke up to the horrible news today that Steve Irwin, the crocodile hunter, has passed away. No, this isn't like the Frosties kid, he's really dead.

 

 

 

First of all, any man who has his life taken away suddenly, leaving his wife and a young child behind, is a tragedy. For Steve Irwin, however, this really is a great loss to the world.

 

 

 

It's very hard to overlook Irwin's contributions to the world and what a great man he truly was. For some, he can be seen as your stereotype, bush Aussie, with his catchphrase of "crikey" and his crazy antics. This alone makes him pretty loveable. But when you consider the work he has done to raise environemental awareness, geological preservation and the incredibly rare gift of getting lazy adolescents, like myself, enthusiastic in the field of saving wildlife, his premature death should be mourned by everyone on this planet.

 

 

 

I can take but one comfort in this great man's demise. Steve Irwin died doing what he loved and what he was loved for around the world. The stingray that stabbed him in the heart may have ended his life, but we cannot forget all that Steve Irwin has given. I emplore you to visit his own charity site: http://www.wildlifewarriors.org.au, and to take an interest in the World Wildlife Federation to help his legacy live on.

 

 

 

R.I.P. Steve Irwin.

[knives669]

I actually cried when my dad told me this morning. This is truly sad. :( I grew up watching him on TV. He was awesome to me.

 

 

 

RIP. My condolences to his family.

[Yoda]

It saddened me a lot hearing this.

 

 

 

R.I.P

[Fadfdfd]

Wow, I learned about this about 5 minutes ago. What a great and funny guy promoting wild life.

 

 

 

R.I.P Stephen Irwin, AKA The Crocodile Hunter

[SanFranciscoGiants]

Oh my...I cant believe this :cry: I remember watching his shows when I was little and stll a few now. Atleast he died doing what he loved to do. May he R.I.P. My prayers are with him and his family.

[Ragen]

This is terrible news. I watched Steve a lot when I was younger, he was my favourite thing to see on TV and he was the one who inspired my massive interest in nature and the world we live in. RIP steve, you'll be missed.

[opu]

Oh dam, he was such a funny guy, he totally put hes heart on hes work..

 

 

 

Rest in pease steve :pray:

[wakka102]

Why did it have to be steve?? Life isnt worth it anymore :cry: :cry:

 

 

 

R.I.P Steve Irwin

[magemachine6]

so sad :(

[knight4]

I saw the bad news on the other forums I go to. I'm so sad now :cry: . R.I.P. Steve Irwin

[Pete_the_Viscous]

Shame.

 

 

 

I was told this morning and, while my source isn't always reliable ("my-name, the Queen's dead", "my-name, Michael Jackson's dead"), I wasn't suspicious this time. I don't think "he had it coming"; to me that connotes desert on his part. I don't think he deserved to die, though it didn't surprise me all that much that he did*.

 

 

 

*I realise that "he had it coming" means that it was going to happen, and is, in that case, right; I just think it has those connotations.

[bjbj1991]

Does anyone remember the Fedx commerical he was in?

 

 

 

He was showing the cammera the most deadly snake in the world and telling how 1 bite can kill 40 men. He gets bit and they say something like when it matures most, use fedx or something.

[knives669]

Does anyone remember the Fedx commerical he was in?

 

 

 

He was showing the cammera the most deadly snake in the world and telling how 1 bite can kill 40 men. He gets bit and they say something like when it matures most, use fedx or something.

 

 

 

Yeah. I remember that commercial. :(

[Hobgoblin11]

I have to admit that I wasn't overly surprised by this. Yes it's vry sad, but it is how he would have wanted to go. He was being filemd, around wildlife, and it was relatively quick and painless demise. Yes he is too young to die really but other than being eaten by a crocodile, I can't think of an ending he would be more satisfied with.

 

 

 

To clear up exactly how he died, as several people are saying different things:

 

 

 

The tail of the stingray whipped up into his chest and pierced his heart. Stingray Barbs inject poison into anything they become embedded in. Poison from barbs delivered directly into the heart + hole in heart = immediate Cardiac arrest and a very quick death. Th only bad thing is that Stingray poison hurts like hell, so for his sake I hope he did die quickly.

 

 

 

RIP Steve, the one and only Crocodile Hunter

[toast647]

ok before some people flame me think about it, he held his newborn son in his arm while feeding a crocodile tell me thats not dangerous?

 

 

 

and heres a funny pic i took when i told rodyle

 

 

 

:XD:

 

 

 

[skeroh]

its sad, but its time nature caught up to him. RIP Croc Hunter aka Steve Irwin... here's an article about his death

[crossfire39]

steve irwin was more than just a guy that wrestled crocodiles and said crikey.

 

he was a environmentalist who cared for animals.

 

its sad how he is leaving his wife to raise two kids.

 

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*Straps on short-shorts, buttons up shirt, develops Austrailian accent*

 

 

 

 

 

Well someone has to take on all them crocs!

 

 

 

And if I may say so. I look even sexier in short-shorts then I do in my normal clothing...Crikey!. ----Rose_2_pure

 

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And im sick of people making stupid remarks like that ^^^^because it isnt funny.

 

R.I.P Steve Irwin

 

 

 

Thank you someone for not acting like a [wagon] and just saying stuff so he can get some post count. Sad that he had to pass. Did alot for the animals, more than most do. It's a shame..

[PSOfr33k]

This is so sad...at least he died doing what he loved...And for all those people who say "he deserved it", realize he did what many people wouldn't have the courage to do...Sure, not everything he did could be looked up to (baby+crocodiles=bad o.O), but he still deserves better than what some of you in this thread have said.

[Barihawk]

Stingrays are one of the most placid creatures in the sea. He was obviously poking it or something.

 

 

 

No offense, but the guy has had this coming for years. Yes, it is a tragedy. But this is the kind of guy who is first in line to get a "stupid sign" from Bill Engvall.

 

 

 

Is it even possible to be any more disrespectful of the dead than this? The guy was not stupid, he was quite smart. He didn't have it coming. Few people actually deserve to die. you think he didn't know his job was deadly? Of course he did and he accepted it as a hazzard of doing what he loved. There aren't many people who can say they have a job doing what they'd most rather do than anything in the world. He also showed millions of people pieces of the world they never would have seen if not for him. For that, at least, he deserves a little more respect than this, especially in a RIP topic.

 

 

 

I was sad, and I said it was a tradegy.

 

 

 

The thing is, many people I have discussed this with and I agree that it was amazing that he made it this far. He has been stung by the world's deadliest snakes, bitten by crocodiles, and done things that would make lesser men cringe.

 

 

 

And he has done his share of irresponsible things...like danging his child over a crocodile.

 

 

 

Yes, it is sad that one of Earth's greatest adventurers and such a lover of nature has died. However, he made the mistake of agitating another lethal creature and it got the worst of him.

[tman59]

some sad music please :boohoo: :boohoo: :boohoo:

 

man, i heard about it in the morning i was so sad......

 

he was a good man didn't complain about his job like most do he loved his job i enjoyed watching him on tv even saw his movie(that not many people saw)all through my life i saw and heard crikey but when i heard i wasnt going to be hearing that again(only in reruns)i began to relize hes gone to a better place and with that said............

 

R.I.P steve"the crocodile hunter"irwin :cry: :cry: :cry:

[Macmaster92]

Its very sad... but the worst thing is that he died doing somthing that he would not usualy do. And most peole think he was like pravoking it or somthing but he actuly was swimming above it and the stinger flung up into his heart. he was not poking it :shame:

[nightshade53]

A great entertainer :P But you have to admit that he was really living on borrowed time when you see the way he contantly acted around dangerous animals. Kind of ironic that a lowly Stingray got him in the end though. :(

[assassin_696]

Yes I heard about this off a friend who is Australian (I lived in Australia for a year). We both generally though he was a complete idiot,

 

 

 

If; someone who founded and directed a large zoo to help educate and care for animals, someone who made documentaries on wild animals for millions of people around the world to watch and learn from, who respected and really did care for animals, and did all this with an incredible energy and enthusiasm for his work, making it fun for viewers and colleagues, is an idiot, then maybe we all should be a bit more like this "idiot".

 

 

 

I don't want to start a war on this thread, but I cannot sit back and watch that man be called an idiot after everything he did.