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RIP Steve Irwin, "The Crocodile Hunter"

Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:56 am
by brian
Image

Stingray kills 'Crocodile Hunter' Irwin

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 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.

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On the Net:

http://www.crocodilehunter.com
Crikey. :mope:

Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:11 am
by Xjmt
I never took a liking to this guy. While I didn't wish for his demise I'm not surprised what with some of those dumb stunts he pulled. All the while saying, "I know what I'm doing." :shock:

Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 1:19 pm
by trucker2000
Steve was great at getting peoples attention and driving children to appreciate animals and the environment. My son wants to be a zoologist becouse of watching Steve's show. He will be missed by millions of people around the world.
My Prayers go out to his young family.

Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 4:57 pm
by Henry J
Crikey. :cries:

:ghug:

Henry

Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:41 am
by lswot
Henry J wrote:Crikey. :cries:

:ghug:

Henry
Yeah......... :(

Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 11:15 am
by Xjmt
They were filming at the time and they have a view of the incident. If broadcast who here would watch?

Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 2:54 pm
by AnneB
I wouldn't watch, but The Discovery Channel says there is no chance of it being broadcast.

Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 3:46 pm
by Xjmt
Good for them, IF they stick to it. And they probably will. IMNSHO :cool:

Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 3:54 pm
by trucker2000
I don't think his wife and father will allow anyone to broadcast it. I wouldnt watch it anyway.

Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:58 am
by lswot
Ditto. :(

Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:43 pm
by trucker2000
Just for info:
Sunday, 9-10-06 starting at 9am on the animal planet, they are going to have a marathon of Steves movies and shows. It lasts until 3pm.

Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 8:44 pm
by Henry J
I sort of figured one of the cable channels would do a Stevathon (or is that a Crocathon?) at some point.

Henry

Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:33 am
by Henry J
From Tvguide search:

Confessions of the Crocodile Hunter Fri, Sep 8 04:00 PM ANIMAL 47

Ice Breaker Sat, Sep 9 03:00 PM ANIMAL 47
Steve’s Story Sat, Sep 9 04:00 PM ANIMAL 47
Confessions of the Crocodile Hunter Sat, Sep 9 05:00 PM ANIMAL 47

Confessions of the Crocodile Hunter Sun, Sep 10 12:00 AM ANIMAL 47

Confessions of the Crocodile Hunter Sun, Sep 10 10:00 AM ANIMAL 47
Steve’s Story Sun, Sep 10 11:00 AM ANIMAL 47
Greatest Crocodile Captures Sun, Sep 10 12:00 PM ANIMAL 47
Big Croc Diaries—Special Edition Sun, Sep 10 01:00 PM ANIMAL 47
They Shoot Crocodiles Don’t They Sun, Sep 10 02:00 PM ANIMAL 47
Confessions of the Crocodile Hunter Sun, Sep 10 03:00 PM ANIMAL 47

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 2:21 pm
by Henry J
They're doing another day of Crocodile Hunter episodes.

In one of them, the contestants of Miss World visited the zoo. They put Steve and Terri on the judge panel for the swimsuit competition. Eh? A guy who thinks crocodiles are beautiful? What's wrong with this picture - he'd likely pick the one who looks most like a crocodile! ;)

Henry

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:34 pm
by Xjmt
Oh I don't know about that. His children's mommy does not look anything like a crocodile to me. :shock:

Then again I have seen a few crocodiles that I thought looked like him. :smokin: