Steve Irwin, is DEAD.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 09-25-2005
Posts: 1,542
From: Brighton, IL
Steve Irwin, is DEAD.
Television personality and environmentalist Steve Irwin has died in a marine accident in north Queensland.
The 44-year-old is believed to have been killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest.
He was filming an underwater documentary off Port Douglas when the accident occurred.
The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) said a call was received about 11am (AEST) on Monday and an emergency services helicopter was flown to the boat on Batt Reef, off the coast near Cairns, with a doctor and emergency services paramedic on board.
Mr Irwin had a puncture wound to the left side of his chest and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mr Irwin's body is being flown to Cairns.
It's believed Mr Irwin's American-born wife Terri is trekking on Cradle Mountain in Tasmania and has yet to be told of her husband's death.
Mr Irwin - known worldwide as the Crocodile Hunter - is famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchcry "Crikey!".
The father of two's Crocodile Hunter program was first broadcast in 1992 and has been shown around the world on cable network Discovery.
He's also starred in movies and has developed the Australia Zoo wildlife park, north of Brisbane, which was started by his parents Bob and Lyn Irwin.
The Irwins have two children - a daughter, Bindi Sue Irwin, eight, and a three-year-old son, Robert (Bob) Clarence Irwin.
Bob was involved in a controversial incident with his father in January, 2004, when he dangled him near a crocodile at Australia Zoo.
Mr Irwin carried his infant son in one arm while feeding a dead chicken carcass to a crocodile with the other hand.
Child welfare and animal rights groups criticised his actions as irresponsible and tantamount to child abuse.
Mr Irwin stated any danger to his son was only a perceived danger and that he was in complete control of the situation.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who used a photograph of his family at Australia Zoo for his official Christmas card last year, hailed Mr Irwin for his work in promoting Australia.
Mr Irwin was heavily involved in last year's "G'Day LA" campaign.
"The minister knew him, was fond of him and was very, very appreciative of all the work he'd done to promote Australia overseas," a spokesman said.
Source: SMH.COM.AU
The 44-year-old is believed to have been killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest.
He was filming an underwater documentary off Port Douglas when the accident occurred.
The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) said a call was received about 11am (AEST) on Monday and an emergency services helicopter was flown to the boat on Batt Reef, off the coast near Cairns, with a doctor and emergency services paramedic on board.
Mr Irwin had a puncture wound to the left side of his chest and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mr Irwin's body is being flown to Cairns.
It's believed Mr Irwin's American-born wife Terri is trekking on Cradle Mountain in Tasmania and has yet to be told of her husband's death.
Mr Irwin - known worldwide as the Crocodile Hunter - is famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchcry "Crikey!".
The father of two's Crocodile Hunter program was first broadcast in 1992 and has been shown around the world on cable network Discovery.
He's also starred in movies and has developed the Australia Zoo wildlife park, north of Brisbane, which was started by his parents Bob and Lyn Irwin.
The Irwins have two children - a daughter, Bindi Sue Irwin, eight, and a three-year-old son, Robert (Bob) Clarence Irwin.
Bob was involved in a controversial incident with his father in January, 2004, when he dangled him near a crocodile at Australia Zoo.
Mr Irwin carried his infant son in one arm while feeding a dead chicken carcass to a crocodile with the other hand.
Child welfare and animal rights groups criticised his actions as irresponsible and tantamount to child abuse.
Mr Irwin stated any danger to his son was only a perceived danger and that he was in complete control of the situation.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who used a photograph of his family at Australia Zoo for his official Christmas card last year, hailed Mr Irwin for his work in promoting Australia.
Mr Irwin was heavily involved in last year's "G'Day LA" campaign.
"The minister knew him, was fond of him and was very, very appreciative of all the work he'd done to promote Australia overseas," a spokesman said.
Source: SMH.COM.AU
Senior Member
Joined: 05-01-2006
Posts: 2,507
From: New London, CT USA
Yeah, I just read it here too:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20349888-2,00.html
At least he died kind of in a way we would expect.
When I speak to Australians they seemed kind of embarrased by him, but he had a kind of charm they put up with. From our perspective in the states, he was one of their prime exports.
I'll miss him on the tube. I was hoping to show my daugher Katy some of his stuff. I'm sure that it will forever play on animal planet.
Still, it won't be the same knowing he has passed and from an animal wound.
I guess there is a lesson in this for us all. Even young Katy.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20349888-2,00.html
At least he died kind of in a way we would expect.
When I speak to Australians they seemed kind of embarrased by him, but he had a kind of charm they put up with. From our perspective in the states, he was one of their prime exports.
I'll miss him on the tube. I was hoping to show my daugher Katy some of his stuff. I'm sure that it will forever play on animal planet.
Still, it won't be the same knowing he has passed and from an animal wound.
I guess there is a lesson in this for us all. Even young Katy.
Banned
Joined: 10-14-2005
Posts: 9,121
From: Rochester,N.Y.
I never saw it coming! 
I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner. At least he was an entertaining moron and had balls the size of the the moon. I'll miss watching him torture exotic animals in a humorous manner.
I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner. At least he was an entertaining moron and had balls the size of the the moon. I'll miss watching him torture exotic animals in a humorous manner.
Senior Member
Joined: 12-28-2005
Posts: 2,531
From: Worcester County, MA
Originally Posted by captain howdy
I never saw it coming!
I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner. At least he was an entertaining moron and had balls the size of the the moon. I'll miss watching him torture exotic animals in a humorous manner.
I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner. At least he was an entertaining moron and had balls the size of the the moon. I'll miss watching him torture exotic animals in a humorous manner.
Senior Member
Joined: 04-19-2006
Posts: 5,065
From: Arvada CO
Wow...what a horrible tragedy. I just logged on and had an email about it from deathbeeper.com. He was so entertaining to watch, even though many thought he was crazier than a loon...it was part of his charm and he will be dearly missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to wife and children.
Deceased
Joined: 10-03-2005
Posts: 2,351
From: Sachse, TX NE Dallas
just to add a little how he died
probably a first no one would want to be
probably a first no one would want to be
"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.
This is from the AP story. Stingray barbs are not normally fatal but getting one in the heart can change the odds.
This is from the AP story. Stingray barbs are not normally fatal but getting one in the heart can change the odds.
When asked if he had ever heard of anyone dying from a stingray barb Matthew Hurley, general manager of Quicksilver Group, whose company has taken tours to Low Isles for 26 years, said: "No, definitely not."
"We've never heard of or been involved with anything like that."
Ross Coleman, acting director at at University of Sydney Institute of Marine Science, told smh.com.au it was "quite rare" for someone to die from contact with a stingray and he couldn't recall hearing of another incident.
Stingrays were "dangerous if provoked", he said.
"As a recreational diving instructor you hear of people getting injured by standing on them ... but they rarely die."
"We've never heard of or been involved with anything like that."
Ross Coleman, acting director at at University of Sydney Institute of Marine Science, told smh.com.au it was "quite rare" for someone to die from contact with a stingray and he couldn't recall hearing of another incident.
Stingrays were "dangerous if provoked", he said.
"As a recreational diving instructor you hear of people getting injured by standing on them ... but they rarely die."