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Radical · Joined: 21 Aug 2006 Posts: 374 Location: Ontario, Canada

SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- Steve Irwin, the Australian TV presenter known as the "Crocodile Hunter," has died after being stung in a marine accident off Australia's north coast.

Australian media reports say Irwin was diving in waters off Port Douglas, north of Cairns, when the incident happened on Monday morning.

Irwin was killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest, according to Cairns police sources. Irwin was filming an underwater documentary at the time.

Ambulance officers confirmed they attended a reef fatality Monday morning off Port Douglas, according to Australian media.

Queensland Police Services also confirmed Irwin's death and said his family had been notified.

Irwin, 44, was director of the Australian Zoo in Queensland.

He and his American-born wife Terri Irwin became popular figures on Australian and international television through Irwin's close handling of wildlife, most notably the capture of live crocodiles.

Irwin's enthusiastic approach to nature conservation and the environment won him a global following.

But his image suffered a setback in 2004 when he held his then one-month-old baby while feeding a crocodile at his Australian zoo.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/09/04/australia.irwin/index.html

:(

RonCrawford · Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 1:52 am Post subject:

I am very saddened to hear this news...

Kubi · Joined: 31 Jul 2006 Posts: 66 Location: NC

I think it would be cool if they released the footage.

RonCrawford · Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 2:39 am Post subject:

Jordan700 · Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 2:44 am Post subject:

Its kind of a shock to hear that he has died. I always liked his shows. Crying or Very sad

Radical · Joined: 21 Aug 2006 Posts: 374 Location: Ontario, Canada

This news made me very sad... he was an idol to me.

slitheringin · Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:27 am Post subject:

Luke S. Tick · Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 181 Location: DeWitt, Ia

I feel terrible! What a loss.

Sure the guy was a little over-the-top, but look at what he's done for Australia, the animals that live there, and the Zoo system down under.

The worst is the loss to his family, Terri and their beautiful daughter. Makes me sad to think of any little girl growwing up without a Daddy, especially one as cool as Steve was.

Still, as the quote says below, you either live or die with the risks you take, whether you like it or not. And Steve liked taking risks to the Nth degree!!!

Luke

milan mathis · Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 265 Location: GA

That is so sad that this happen he will be missed Crying or Very sad

reptilehunter · Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 565 Location: Tampa, Florida

I was very sad when I heard the news. He surely will be missed. I have put a short bio about Steve in the herp news section.

slitheringin · Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 2:20 pm Post subject:

This came from a site in England:

Death
Shortly after 11:00am local time on 4 September 2006, Irwin was fatally pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while diving in Queensland's Batt Reef, which is part of the Great Barrier Reef. The events were caught on camera and the footage is now in the possession of Queensland Police.[24] Irwin was in the area filming his own documentary, to be called The Ocean's Deadliest, but weather had stalled filming. Irwin decided to take the opportunity to film some shallow water shots for a segment in the television program his daughter Bindi was hosting,[25] when, according to his friend and colleague John Stainton, he swam too close to one of the animals, which have a venomous barb on their tails. "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.

After reviewing the footage of the incident and speaking to the cameraman who recorded it, marine documentary filmmaker and fisherman Ben Cropp speculated that the stingray, a bull ray, "felt threatened because Steve was alongside and there was the cameraman ahead..."[24] In such a case, the animal responds by automatically flexing the serrated barb on its tail, which is up to 30 centimeters (roughly 12 inches) in length, upward. In this case, the motion struck Irwin's chest and pierced his heart.[24] Crewmembers aboard his boat called emergency services in the nearest city of 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.[26]

The Queensland Police Service notified his family and released a statement for the media concerning his death.[27] News of his death prompted a public outpouring expressing shock and loss. Several Australian news websites went down because of high web traffic[28] and talk-back radio experienced a high volume of callers expressing their grief,[29] commemorating his passion and exuberance. Prime Minister John Howard, among many other politicians, expressed his "shock and distress" at the death, saying that "Australia has lost a wonderful and colourful son.”[30] Irwin's body was flown to a morgue in Cairns[31], where stunned family and friends were gathering on Monday night. His wife Terri was informed of her husband's death while on a walking tour in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania, and returned via private plane from Devonport to the Sunshine Coast with their two children. [2].[24]
Rest in Peace, Steve Crying or Very sad

Radical · Joined: 21 Aug 2006 Posts: 374 Location: Ontario, Canada

Here's a video my friend has put together as a tribute for Steve Irwin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwAymV8C2lA

slitheringin · Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 3:19 pm Post subject:

That was well done and a d.... fine video. Made me cry...again

deborahbroadus · Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:06 pm Post subject:

deborahbroadus · Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:11 pm Post subject:

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