‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin dies

[Mayhem]

BRISBANE, Australia - Steve Irwin, the Australian television personality and environmentalist known as the "Crocodile Hunter," was killed Monday by a stingray during a diving expedition, Australian media said. He was 44.

Full story here : http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14663786/

[CindyLouWho]

Wow I didn't hear bout that, thanks for the info.  Thats such a shame, & his kids are so young to be losing their father.  I ddn't watch him much but I loved to hear him talk with that accent.

[Runner]

my son is going to be heartbroken

[Mr. Rasputia]

sad to hear, especially for the kids <a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZNxdm824JOUS%2526i%253D23%252F23%255F144%255F4%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_144_4.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0">

[Tara]

Wow!!  My daughter well be upset about this.


Homer? If you can't something nice, don't say nothing at all.  :-X

Homer doesn't like him.

[zzigzzag]

OMG, I had not heard about this!  How sad!    I enjoyed watching him he was a trip! Awwwwwwwwww and to go that way!  He sure did love the animals and was great with them . Hard to believe he went at the hands of something he loved so much!

God Speed Steve!

[wattsmyname]

So sad.

[lovebug44]

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.

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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 bard 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.

His ebullience was infectious and Australian officials sought him out for photo opportunities and to promote Australia internationally.

Irwin's 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.

___

[crazy_]

Well he went doing what he loved.  In a good way tho cuz better than at the wrath of one of those crocs.  I always did like watching his show.  Cept for that baby incident  :oo

Sad for his family tho

[foxtrot]

i was shocked when i heard the news. i always liked it when he did animal segments on the jay leno show. i would always get a kick out of him and leno interacting with the animals. it was so funny

[Luna]

This is so shocking and sad. I loved watching his show

[zeboo]

he will be truely missed,I feel great sorrow for his family he left behind

[WV4057]

 :'((

[who me?]

This is such a tragedy. I heard about it while I was at work last night, I was truly heart broken.
He was young and fully enjoyed life. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to his family whom I know will miss him terribly.
God Bless your soul      :-*   :'((

[SouthPadreIsland]

Isn't just a freak accident?  It's so terrible.  We loved him here at my house and we were upset this morning when we heard the news.  He was so passionate about animals as am I, the world is less one great teacher.  God bless him and his family left behind.  0:

[codobutts]

 :( I will truely miss him. My heart goes out to his wife and 2 kids. Now I have no good reason to go to Australia.  :'(( You will be missed Steve!

[badgehog]

Sure was a tragedy for the family. But Steve lived his life to the fullest and died doing what he loved doing. The saddest thing is the two kids lost a great father, not too many of those around. :-\

[tennesseegal]

Awww  Crikey   :'((

[Unfortunate26]

I can't believe it!! I just can't believe it!!  :o

[IndianLover]

that is a shame  :'((