QuoteWildlife warrior Steve Irwin was a daredevil who loved flirting with danger around deadly animals.
But after years of close shaves it was a normally harmless stingray which finally claimed his life on Monday, plunging a barb into the Crocodile Hunter's chest as he snorkelled in shallow water on the Great Barrier Reef.
The 44-year-old TV personality may have died instantly when struck by the stingray while filming a sequence for his eight-year-old daughter Bindi's new TV series, friends believe.
"You think about all the documentaries we've made and all the dangerous situations that we have been in, you always think `is this it, is this a day that maybe his demise?'," said his friend and manager John Stainton.
"(But) nothing would ever scare Steve or would worry him. He didn't have a fear of death at all."
Mr Irwin made his international reputation wrestling crocodiles and snakes.
But the flamboyant naturalist's final confrontation with a wild animal occurred at Batt Reef off Port Douglas on Monday morning, where he had been filming a new documentary, "Ocean's Deadliest".
Taking time off from the main project, Mr Irwin was swimming in shallow water, snorkelling as his cameraman filmed large bull rays.
"He came over the top of a stingray and the stingray's barb went up and went into his chest and put a hole into his heart," said Mr Irwin's friend and manager John Stainton.
"It's likely that he possibly died instantly when the barb hit him, and I don't think that he ... felt any pain.
"He died doing what he loved best."
Mr Irwin's death was only the third known stingray death in Australian waters, said shark and stingray expert Victoria Brims.
Wildlife experts said the normally passive creatures only sting in defence, striking with a bayonet-like barb when they feel threatened.
Marine documentary maker Ben Cropp, who spoke to one of Mr Irwin's crew, said: "Steve got probably maybe a bit too close to the ray, and with the cameraman in front, the ray must have felt sort of cornered.
"It went into a defensive mode, stopped, turned around and lashed out with its tail, which has a considerable spike on it.
"Unfortunately Steve was directly in its path and he took a fatal wound."
Unconscious, Mr Irwin was pulled aboard his research vessel, Croc One, for a 30-minute dash to Low Isle, where an emergency helicopter had been summoned at about 11am, his Australia Zoo said in a statement.
The crew of the Croc One performed constant CPR during the voyage to Low Isle, but medical staff pronounced Mr Irwin dead about noon.
Mr Irwin's body was flown to a morgue in Cairns, where stunned family and friends were gathering on Monday night.
His American-born wife Terri was told of her husband's death while on a walking tour in Tasmania, and returned to the Sunshine Coast with her two children, Bindi and three-year-old son Bob.
The death of the larger than life Mr Irwin, best known for his catchcry "Crikey!", caused shockwaves around the world, leading TV bulletins in the United States and Britain.
He was one of Australia's best known personalities internationally and an ambassador for the nation and its wildlife.
Mr Irwin was also a global phenomenon, making almost 50 documentaries which appeared on the cable TV channel Animal Planet, and which generated books, interactive games and even toy action figures.
Prime Minister John Howard said: "I am quite shocked and distressed at Steve Irwin's sudden, untimely and freakish death. It's a huge loss to Australia.
"He was a wonderful character. He was a passionate environmentalist. He brought joy and entertainment and excitement to millions of people."
Mourners laid flowers at the entrance of Mr Irwin's Australia Zoo, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
Mr Stainton said bad weather had stopped the filming for their documentary about some of the world's deadliest sea creatures.
Mr Irwin instead decided on a whim to shoot footage for his daughter Bindi's upcoming series.
"He said 'I might just go off and shoot some segments for Bindi's show, just stuff on the reef and little animals," Mr Stainton said.
"I just said fine, anything that would keep him moving and keep his adrenalin going.
"The next thing I heard on the radio was there was a medical emergency, the little dinghy he was in was bringing him back with the crew.
"Everyone tried absolutely tirelessly to revive him to keep him alive, we cut dinghies loose and made it post haste to Low Isle where we knew the chopper would be able to get in, but I think it's possible he probably died at 11am."
Diver Pete West was on a nearby boat and believed Mr Irwin may have been alive when pulled from the water.
"He was doing what he did best and unfortunately today he wasn't quick enough," he told the Seven Network.
University of Melbourne expert Bryan Fry said stingrays only sting in defence.
"They're not aggressive animals so the animal must have felt threatened. It didn't sting out of aggression, it stung out of fear," said Dr Fry, deputy director of the Australian Venom Research.
He said the stingray would have been up to 2.5 metres across, with a "formidable" jagged barb up to 20cm long, capable of tearing flesh.
"It's not the going in, it's the coming out," Dr Fry said of the serrated barb.
But the stingray's venom would not have been a factor.
Mr Irwin was comfortable around animals, no matter how dangerous, and some wildlife experts warned he took too many risks.
His enthusiasm and daring made him famous.
The Melbourne-born father of two's Crocodile Hunter program was first broadcast in 1992 and has been shown around the world on cable network Discovery.
He also starred in movies and helped develop the Australia Zoo wildlife park, north of Brisbane, which was started by his parents Bob and Lyn Irwin.
He grew up near crocodiles, trapping and removing them from populated areas and releasing them in his parents' park, which he took over in 1991.
Bob was involved in a controversial incident in January 2004, when his father held his infant son in one arm as he fed a dead chicken to a crocodile at Australia Zoo.
Child welfare and animal rights groups criticised his actions as irresponsible and tantamount to child abuse.
Mr Irwin said any danger to his son was only a perceived danger and that he was in complete control of the situation.
In June 2004, Mr Irwin came under fire again when it was alleged he came too close to and disturbed some whales, seals and penguins while filming a documentary in Antarctica.
Mr Irwin was also a tourism ambassador and was heavily involved in last year's "G'Day LA" tourism campaign.
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said Mr Irwin was an "extraordinary man".
"He has made an enormous difference to his state and his country," he said.
Pretty sad stuff really
respect to the guy, sad that hes gone as my son realy liked him on animal planet
I'veheard about it. UL dude.
I'm sorry he's dead but not surprised. He always pushed animals too far IMHO and it was just a matter of time.
im sorry to say it but he really had that coming. from the couple of programs ive seen he was an excitng person to watch but did push the animals to far.
From BBC News:
-----
Attacks on humans are a rarity - only one other person is known to have died in Australia from a stingray attack, at St Kilda, Melbourne in 1945.
"Stingrays only sting in defence, they're not aggressive animals so the animal must have felt threatened. It didn't sting out of aggression, it stung out of fear," Dr Bryan Fry, Deputy Director of the Australian Venom Research Unit at the University of Melbourne said.
-----
Betcha he tried to stick his thumb up it's arse...
Sad really.
To say he had it coming is a bit harsh imho.
Like saying we've got it coming if we travel at 80mph rather than 70mph on a motorway.
Quote from: Thulsa Doom;147822Sad really.
To say he had it coming is a bit harsh imho.
Like saying we've got it coming if we travel at 80mph rather than 70mph on a motorway.
Now if you'd made the comparison between us driving at 180mph rather than 70mph then that I could accept.
Quote from: BlueBall;147825Now if you'd made the comparison between us driving at 180mph rather than 70mph then that I could accept.
Hey, that's not fair. Thulsa's a normal bloke, not a policeman in a new patrol car. :whistle:
Anyway, he made good widlife documentaries and my kids loved him, so respect to the guy and I'm sorry he's gone. He was a great ambassador for Oz and at least he had the luck to go out doing what he loved best.
TL.
On the LFS forum the thread stated that Steve Irwin 'passed away'. No, he died doing dumb things to dumb animals for the sake of entertainment! As someone on the other forum said "I bet he was sticking his thumb up the poor bugger's arse" Having said that, it's not nice for anyone to get killed eh? I guess it's ok to earn a living like that as a single bloke, but when you have godfers you have to temper things a bit. Do something safe like F1.
Quote from: Carr0t;147819Betcha he tried to stick his thumb up it's arse...
LAWL:lmfao:
(http://www.andy-yates.co.uk/vd/irwin.jpg)
sad.. i used to watch the guy during his shows :(
Sad that he died, he was awesome. But dont fuc* with dangerous animals, Steve is an example :)
Used to enjoy watching him on his programmes .... sad loss ..:byesad:
Sorry to hear this.:byebye: I liked his show as well
Quote from: BlueBall;147785I'm sorry he's dead but not surprised. He always pushed animals too far IMHO and it was just a matter of time.
well i am suprised, suprised that such a charactar with such experience died
and suprised how he died kinda stupid but i would have thoughed more of a croco frenzie death, then a by a defense move of a "harmless" animal.
"Shot through the heart,
and you're to blame"
A sad doings:sad:
Sad, but i think it could be expected doing all the crazy stuff he did. Then again, he did have a lot of experiance, and its still a shock that he bit it.
Quote from: Blunt;147964"Shot through the heart,
and you're to blame"
A sad doings:sad:
Bon Jovi :dribble:
I'm sure his widow and his kids will appreaciate your sentiments. guys nobody deserves to die like this. He's not some criminal. He did a lot for people and brought a lot of people joy and knowledge.
Please consider that the next time you mock someone.
he done a lot for a lot of ppl, but jumping on every dangerous creature out there kinda ensures a short life since accidents happen, and the more dangerous the critter, the more chance the outcome wont be good.
Like smoking, and drinking, doing this kind of stuff is no good for your life expectancy.
Having a dangerous profession, whether it be Car/Bike racing, Cleaning Croc teeth, Nitpicking a Gorilla etc means you have a higher chance of getting injured/killed but doesn't ensure it (or deserve it).
Can't be compared with excessive Smoking/Drinking really.
Quote from: Ninja_Freak;148214I'm sure his widow and his kids will appreaciate your sentiments. guys nobody deserves to die like this. He's not some criminal. He did a lot for people and brought a lot of people joy and knowledge.
Please consider that the next time you mock someone.
dito, I've been getting this crap at work all week and its starting to pee me off (and it takes alot for me to be peed off). Guys go check out the wiki entry on steve irwin and see how much good he has done.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Irwin
Quote from: Ninja_Freak;148214I'm sure his widow and his kids will appreaciate your sentiments. guys nobody deserves to die like this. He's not some criminal. He did a lot for people and brought a lot of people joy and knowledge.
Please consider that the next time you mock someone.
I don't think anyone has said or feels that he deserved it. As you say he did an awful lot of good. However, he appeared to stretch the limits of what you can/should do with what is after all a wild animal. So no he didn't deserve it but it's still not surprising that it happened.
TBH
im just surprised he hasnt had a fatal incidence before now especially with his way of acting around animals, which is personally VERY against the way i believe that they should be treated.
but he was a good showman
Quote from: BlueBall;148280As you say he did an awful lot of good.
I suspect he's also inspired others to TANGO with animals they shouldn't mess with too, to either their (the people) detriment or the animals'.
And since there are people who seem sensitive about it, I'll not share my dead Steve Irwin comedy here ;)
It is not surprising that a man on the edge gets into trouble, but what is surprising, and even more tragic, is the non-daring and unlikely way he went. And that is where a bit of humour slipped into a subforum in which bull is reserved for Benny :wink:
Personally, I think David Attenbrough does more for the natural world in one (of his many) series than Steve the Loony did during his entire career.
Unfortunate that he popped his clogs, but he was more Barnum than Darwin - and he's not Saint Steve of Assissi either.
Quote from: Ninja_Freak;148214I'm sure his widow and his kids will appreaciate your sentiments. guys nobody deserves to die like this. He's not some criminal. He did a lot for people and brought a lot of people joy and knowledge.
Please consider that the next time you mock someone.
Agreed ..!!
Quote from: Ninja_Freak;148214I'm sure his widow and his kids will appreaciate your sentiments. guys nobody deserves to die like this.
Like what? You make it sound like he had some terrible ordeal while from what I can tell it was a quick death while messing with a dangerous creature he should probably left alone.
Tell me: Why do you care so much about this? Didn't see a big thread about those yachtsmen who died last month, and drowning (or being hit by a ferry if that's what happened) seems like a much more unpleasant death. I'll wager there have been many nasty deaths at sea (and elsewhere) this year - where are those in your* list of concerns? Y'all care because he was famous? How fabulous for you.
* that's a collective "your," not exactly directed at NF
Quote from: Maus;148555Like what? You make it sound like he had some terrible ordeal while from what I can tell it was a quick death while messing with a dangerous creature he should probably left alone.
Tell me: Why do you care so much about this? Didn't see a big thread about those yachtsmen who died last month, and drowning (or being hit by a ferry if that's what happened) seems like a much more unpleasant death. I'll wager there have been many nasty deaths at sea (and elsewhere) this year - where are those in your* list of concerns? Y'all care because he was famous? How fabulous for you.
* that's a collective "your," not exactly directed at NF
and did you post anything about the yachtsmen that died last month....or couldnt ya come up with any jokes about their deaths ??????
That IS directed at you Maus !!:angry:
No, because I didn't see that there was any need to, just like I don't see that there's any need for this thread.
(I could say more, but it would be flamebait of the highest order)
you never know, he probably would have laughed at the jokes, he seemed a happy sort of bloke!
How about we move away from the point(s) of contention and stop getting wound up over this? it's not worth the aggro!
Time for everyone to simply accept that the world we live in aint perfect and we mourn the loss of celebrity seemingly more than we ought to. Probably a lot tougher for their families too when this happens. At least us nobodies get to grieve in peace.
Stay frosty please people.
Hey Maus,
Equally tradgic about the yachtsmen. However I didn't see anyone poking fun at them. The jokes sickened me and were in extremely poor taste.
I fail however to see why you would point the finger directly at me as a culprit for starting this thread when I was the first one to disagree with the content.
So perhaps the next time you decide to get up on your soap-box you'll reflect on the content. As a father and a husband to see someone check out early and leaving a grieving family while people around the globe take comfort by making jokes about it only serves to show how degraded a society we live in. Looking at your original post on this thread I find it hypocritical that you would then come back making out that your a bleeding-heart for those yachtsmen when you were more than happy to share your list of Steve Irwin jokes...
As Madness said, I'm sure you can go and start your own thread about the yachtsmen and others will support you. I'll stay out of it however as I wouldn't want you to use my post to stand on and waive your banner. Perhaps next time you should.
NF
As OB said:
CHILL!
Now will you too stop antagonizing each other and get on with life. The guy is dead. Everybody is sad, I don't see any Steve Irwin Jokes in the thread so *** is the problem?
Any more of this childishness and the thread gets locked.
B"I've had enough bickering to last a lifetime"B
Damn...
I was going to post a really incendiary post (honestly)
but if you had enough, I won't:flirty:
(point of order, I specifically said that it wasn't directed at you, NF)
Quote from: Maus;148647(point of order, I specifically said that it wasn't directed at you, NF)
Now you 'eard mister BlueBall, Chill. /tweaks ear.:smile:
Sir, sir, can I say something sir?
To be fair, jokes are ALWAYS spawned and the drop of a catastrophy.(Princess Di? Tsunami? etc. etc.) Some funny, some mildly amusing and some downright distasteful! Why Steve Irwin should engender such passion I can't understand.
Is political correctness finally seeping into our collective veins? Do we REALLY get affronted by a joke? Or is it a 'stance'? Beats me. :unsure:
I'm not responding.
I'll reply, I like a good chat.
I think the point is it feels distasteful to mock when he's left two young 'uns behind not to mention a wife. Dan is a dad as are a lot of people here and it's not a nice feeling. Then I could be miles off, let's all 'winston' and move on now I've had the last word.
Let 'em grieve.
That said he should have known better, no-one deserves that but at the same time there's only so many times you can tempt fate.
Well at risk of carrying this on too far:
Can someone please explain where people have been distasteful????? :blink:
As far as I am aware, the late Steve Irwin was a rather shouty antipodean croc-botherer, who made millions shouting and bothering crocs for TV.
I have only seen a few of his programs, because, after a few croc wrestlings... well.... I lost interest.
I'm sure there was more to the bloke than croc wrestling; I have learned since he died that he was a family man and a proud father, albeit one who drew criticism for endangering his baby son's life in a croc enclosure (though why anyone would name their kids Bindi and Clarence is beyond me ); And I know he was a well regarded environmentalist who owned his own zoo (or animal jail if you like)
The guy wasn't St. Francis of Assisi, He was a TV presenter who wrestled crocodiles...
You probably have never met him...if you have, then fair play...you have a perfect excuse to mourn him...
But it really winds me up that whenever a popular Royal/entertainer/personalty/genius-drunk etc. dies, the whole of the country starts wailing and mourning In a "look at how upset I am" fashion, demanding State funerals, National Holidays and Memorial Statues.
you probably laughed at the "Doorstep Challenge" jokes that came up almost immediately after St. Jill Dando was murdered..I know I did, even though I thought she was quite good, and I fancied her like you fancy your mate's mum.
The Dodi & Di alliteration possibilities made for much hilarity in the days following their deaths...I laughed, even though I knew she had 2 boys the same age as mine.
there were loads of marinated liver type jokes when my hero George Best died following a protracted suicide...I was very sad that he had gone, but I still chuckled at the jokes...
Surely, it is people like Mark William Wright, a 27 year old corporal from Edinburgh who died(for his country..That's YOU folks) in an unmarked minefield in Afghanistan on Wednesday and all his fallen comrades there and in Iraq that people should be getting upset about?
I really am sick of this mawkish sentimentaltality that has swept the country in the last decade.
don't get me started on roadside shrines:angry:
Quote from: BlueBall;148902Well at risk of carrying this on too far:
Can someone please explain where people have been distasteful????? :blink:
I was refering to the GENERAL propensity for people to make jokes in the face of tragedies etc. which are sometimes distasteful.
It's alright, I've already got my coat.:smile:
Quote from: Blunt;148915As far as I am aware, the late Steve Irwin was a rather shouty antipodean croc-botherer, who made millions shouting and bothering crocs for TV.
I have only seen a few of his programs, because, after a few croc wrestlings... well.... I lost interest.
I'm sure there was more to the bloke than croc wrestling; I have learned since he died that he was a family man and a proud father, albeit one who drew criticism for endangering his baby son's life in a croc enclosure (though why anyone would name their kids Bindi and Clarence is beyond me ); And I know he was a well regarded environmentalist who owned his own zoo (or animal jail if you like)
The guy wasn't St. Francis of Assisi, He was a TV presenter who wrestled crocodiles...
You probably have never met him...if you have, then fair play...you have a perfect excuse to mourn him...
But it really winds me up that whenever a popular Royal/entertainer/personalty/genius-drunk etc. dies, the whole of the country starts wailing and mourning In a "look at how upset I am" fashion, demanding State funerals, National Holidays and Memorial Statues.
you probably laughed at the "Doorstep Challenge" jokes that came up almost immediately after St. Jill Dando was murdered..I know I did, even though I thought she was quite good, and I fancied her like you fancy your mate's mum.
The Dodi & Di alliteration possibilities made for much hilarity in the days following their deaths...I laughed, even though I knew she had 2 boys the same age as mine.
there were loads of marinated liver type jokes when my hero George Best died following a protracted suicide...I was very sad that he had gone, but I still chuckled at the jokes...
Surely, it is people like Mark William Wright, a 27 year old corporal from Edinburgh who died(for his country..That's YOU folks) in an unmarked minefield in Afghanistan on Wednesday and all his fallen comrades there and in Iraq that people should be getting upset about?
I really am sick of this mawkish sentimentaltality that has swept the country in the last decade.
don't get me started on roadside shrines:angry:
You and me will have a beer or two at the lan and discuss 'Shrines 'r' us and Shrine U like.
Oi! Chill!
Well said, Blunt.
Quote from: Blunt;148915Surely, it is people like Mark William Wright, a 27 year old corporal from Edinburgh who died(for his country..That's YOU folks) in an unmarked minefield in Afghanistan on Wednesday and all his fallen comrades there and in Iraq that people should be getting upset about?
Hear! bloody hear!
every forum needs a Blunt :D
my feeling to ..I enjoyed his shows but its not like we lost Rolf Harris
oooo, it's all fiesty.
The geezer died, yes he's public eye, no, that shouldn't make a difference, but I don't think that mourning
QuoteMark William Wright, a 27 year old corporal from Edinburgh who died in an unmarked minefield in Afghanistan on Wednesday and all his fallen comrades there and in Iraq that people should be getting upset about?
and mourning
QuoteAussie bloke who took one risk too many who was clearly passionate about what he did and leaves a wife and young family
should be mutually exclusive. In truth I'm not really bothered by the latter, and am ignorant to the first, but agree it's a pretty screwed up world we live inwhere we have to associate worth to a person before we can show any sympathy.
That all said, I think the entire 'discussion' here has blown out of all proportion - who woulda though that in this forum - so, I'll shut up now.
Nutters:angry: (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5338118.stm)
:angry: attention seeking muppets
Quote from: Jamoe;149614:angry: attention seeking muppets
I thought Ozzies had more sense than that :thumbsdown:
Quote from: BlueBall;149616I thought Ozzies had more sense than that :thumbsdown:
Just read that whole thing, no real proof but still :angry:. I really can't work some ppl out :sad:
I'm was saddened by the news.... so ironic being killed by something which rarely causes fatalities.
I had a lot of respect for the fella. Sure he was loud, mouthy and brash - find me an Australia who isn't ( :whistle: j/k ). But he was also a great Naturalist, [SIZE=-1]philanthropist and [/SIZE]conservationist pumping much of his money into wildlife sancturaries and breeding programmes.
PEN
PS, I was surprised that they wanted to give him a state funeral though ! Nice touch that his father said no and that he was just a normal bloke ....
Post script (http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/mar/10/steve-irwin-could-not-be-saved-stringray-justin-lyons)
Interesting link, they've started showing his programme on itv again.
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