Stingray kills 'Crocodile Hunter' Irwin

t h e . d r e a m e r

By BRIAN CASSEY, Associated Press Writer

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.
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summer_chick62 · Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 4:27 am Post subject:

That poor man! I feel so sorry for him and his family, my prayers are with him :icon_016:
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TwinStyle · Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:01 am Post subject:

I almost cried when I heard the news from my father ...... AAHHHH that stingray!! XD
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[x] exotic realm · Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 5:39 pm Post subject:

huhuhuhuhu. he was my lifesaver and he had to go early. WHY?!!

stingraaaaayyy!! whyd you have to do this?!
I promised my self that i have to go to Australia Zoo next year and meeting him but my chances are lost!

Huhuuuuuhu.

May Steve Irwin be rest in peace and all his help for all environments be nice.

hwaaaaaaaa

t h e . d r e a m e r · Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 7:15 pm Post subject:

I know! Even though I don't watch his shows that much I still like him! It's so SAD! But my dad said he read that one of the doctors said whatever way they could do it like bring him to the hospital fast he would have still died! Because it hit his heart! :(
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Who said I wanna be P E R F E C T??

Nobody’s p e r f e c t,
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You know what I wanna be?
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YZ · Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 9:25 pm Post subject:

I just read in the news this morning. It's so sad.
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t h e . d r e a m e r · Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 9:58 pm Post subject:

It really is sad!
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Who said I wanna be P E R F E C T??

Nobody’s p e r f e c t,
You just have to learn to l o v e that.

You know what I wanna be?
I just wanna be ME!

bugbug · Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 12:02 am Post subject:

hey i posted the same artical in my forum yesterday but anyway
it stinks how life can come and go in just a second....hes 2-3 year old son probally wont remember him years from now......and his daughter has only somany memories of him.....i feel bad for em......
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lil_cookie--[killer] · Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 12:20 am Post subject:

Thats so sad.
I couldnt reply yesterday since I needed to go.
Its so sad
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t h e . d r e a m e r · Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 1:27 am Post subject:

It really is sad! And your right bugbug! His 3 year old son won't even remember him!
_________________

Who said I wanna be P E R F E C T??

Nobody’s p e r f e c t,
You just have to learn to l o v e that.

You know what I wanna be?
I just wanna be ME!

summer_chick62 · Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 5:14 am Post subject:

May he rest in peace
_________________

And our dreams, they are made out of real things

Cuz you're just the girl all the boys wanna dance with, and I'm just the boy that's had too many chances

Crazy at it seems, it wasn't just a dream

Boats

Caja · Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 8:56 am Post subject:

RIP Steve. He is a great man he died doing what his love to do :( :(
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nanelisabeth · Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 9:31 am Post subject:

iT REAlly is sad, i watched his shows some longtime ago.. I always thought one day he's bravery wil llead to his death. Im really sad, it just shows that entertainment is'nt 100% safe.
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[x] exotic realm · Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 6:01 pm Post subject:

he was a great 'hunter'. but he died for the world. he did what he was supposed to do.

its very sad of carrey to find out that. im not sure of her name though. XD

yeaah it went through the ribcage and right through his heart. WHY!!!

he was my one stop lifesafer and i always wanted to see him!

lil_cookie--[killer] · Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 9:16 pm Post subject:

Awwww.....Im so sad you couldnt see him Ratri
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Y.R.P are my heroes.