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Stingray kills "Crocodile Hunter"
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:00 am
by Xar
I'm not sure whether this is the appropriate forum for this piece of news, but if it isn't, the mods can always move it
CNN wrote: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, 44 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 was director of the Australian Zoo in Queensland.
He is survived by his American-born wife Terri and their two children, Bindi Sue, born 1998, and Robert (Bob), born December 2003.
Irwin became a popular figure on Australian and international television through Irwin's close handling of wildlife, most notably the capture and relocation of crocodiles.
Irwin's enthusiastic approach to nature conservation and the environment won him a global following. He was known for his exuberance and use of the catch phrase "Crikey!"
But his image suffered a setback in January 2004 when he held his then 1-month-old baby Bob while feeding a crocodile at his Australian zoo. (Full story)
In a statement released to Australian media, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer expressed his sorrow and said that he was fond of Irwin and was very appreciative of all the work he had done in promoting Australia overseas.
In 2003, Irwin spoke to the Australian Broadcasting Corp.'s Australian Story television program about how he was perceived in his home country.
"When I see what's happened all over the world, they're looking at me as this very popular, wildlife warrior Australian bloke," he said, the ABC reported.
"And yet back here in my own country, some people find me a little bit embarrassing. "You know, there's this... they kind of cringe, you know, 'cause I'm coming out with 'Crikey' and 'Look at this beauty'."
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:08 am
by Queeaqueg
It just came on the news.
Well, he died doing what he loved. RIP.
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:26 am
by dlbpharmd
Godspeed.
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:29 am
by Marv
He was a pioneer in the field of numbskullery.
Anyway, I feel for his family, he's got a couple of young daughters.
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 1:07 pm
by Kil Tyme
Yes, sad news. He also did a lot for awareness of various endangered critters, etc. He did seem to take a lot of chances, just like another animal hunter celeb whose name I can't recall now. He probably tried to hug that sting-ray. Anyway, sad news and I feel for his family, one of whom was on the boat with him, I think I read.
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 1:08 pm
by Fist and Faith
Very sad news.
He was funny and enthusiastic. Great fun to watch. And he shared a lot of information in every episode. His wife said she was attracted to him the first time she saw him speak at the zoo. She loved the way he viewed things, listening to him talk about what great mothers crocs are.
I tall ya, it was an honah just to sha space with that guy!
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 1:18 pm
by Cail
Wow, that's a real shame. My daughter and I loved watching his show.
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 2:06 pm
by wayfriend
Caught this on CNN tv this morning. Quite a shock.
Part of me says, it had to catch up with him eventually. Part of me says, too bad, he was a fun person to watch.
Normally, sting rays aren't fatal. But I guess he was messing with a big one, doing things you shouldn't do. It was a big stinger, straight into his heart. On top of it, he was too far away from any help - thirty minutes to rendezvous with a medivac chopper.
Somewhere, someplace, it's on film. Can't wait.
I hope that other nuts that make a living going, look at me, I'm poking a dangerous animal! Start taking a cold hard look at their livlihood.
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 2:37 pm
by onewyteduck
I always enjoyed watching Irwin. This was a guy who honestly loved what he was doing. And as qUEEAQUEG said, he died doing what he loved. How very sad. Crikee!
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 3:14 pm
by sgt.null
working with animals evry Sunday I have to disagree with the majority here. he was a grandstanding idiot. his foolish actions have now cost his children their father. I work with stingrays, small ones, and we are told to be very careful as they can sting you. and the whole issue with him baiting a croc with his kid? he made a circus out of real concerns.
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 4:38 pm
by Sunbaneglasses
My 5 year old Daniel is sad,he has always loved watching that crazy bloke.My wife and I had always joked that something like this would happen,now that it has it is not funny.
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:24 pm
by Alynna Lis Eachann
I'm
somewhat inclined to agree with sarge... Some people who work with dangerous animals seem to start taking it for granted that things are always going to work out. There's no way for us to know, though, if he died because he wasn't being cautious enough, or if it the ray's movement was beyond his ability to react to. The cautious among us get hurt, too.
I'm saddened to hear of his death. He worked so hard to educate people about animals, and why they need to be protected.
Wayfriend wrote:Somewhere, someplace, it's on film. Can't wait.
Forgive me, but I hope that was meant to be sarcastic...?
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:26 pm
by Cail
Alynna Lis Eachann wrote:He worked so hard to educate people about animals, and why they need to be protected.
And this will end up being his legacy.
And I'm sure that's exactly what he wanted it to be.
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:45 pm
by matrixman
Irwin's theatrics weren't my cup of tea. I saw him as a big circus act, like Sarge said. No offense to any Aussies who saw him as a good promoter of their country. No question about Irwin's passion and concern for wildlife either; I just didn't like his style. I feel very sorry for his wife and kids.
Saw on the news that the family had set up some sort of nature conservation fund that's a multi-million dollar thing now. I'm guessing the children will be following in their father's footsteps.
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:24 pm
by CovenantJr
sgtnull wrote:working with animals evry Sunday I have to disagree with the majority here. he was a grandstanding idiot. his foolish actions have now cost his children their father. I work with stingrays, small ones, and we are told to be very careful as they can sting you. and the whole issue with him baiting a croc with his kid? he made a circus out of real concerns.
I have to agree with the Sergeant this time. Of course I'm saddened by his death (as much as I can be when I didn't know or particularly like the man) but he was indeed a bit of a fool, and his own recklessness caused this. As the Sergeant said, his actions have left his children fatherless. Very irresponsible and selfish, frankly.
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:38 pm
by Trapper
Matrixman wrote: No offense to any Aussies who saw him as a good promoter of their country. No question about Irwin's passion and concern for wildlife either; I just didn't like his style.
Actually he had to address several times in Aussie interviews the fact that we didn't like him anywhere near as much as he was liked overseas. He was a completely overblown character to us.
His view was that his fellow Australians just wished that he would take a Valium and calm down. Very true.
He probably had a point when he said that we found him personally embarassing because we saw a part of him in ourselves.
A great interview with him by Andrew Denton was replayed tonight on Aussie TV, and I found myself looking at him in a much more sympathetic light than I had previously.
As you said, he was a very passionate man.
But I didn't like his style either.
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:44 pm
by A Gunslinger
I always liked the guy. It is a loss to his professional community and I suppose to people everywhere who liked that sort of entertainment.
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:56 pm
by Sunbaneglasses
sgtnull wrote:working with animals evry Sunday I have to disagree with the majority here. he was a grandstanding idiot. his foolish actions have now cost his children their father. I work with stingrays, small ones, and we are told to be very careful as they can sting you. and the whole issue with him baiting a croc with his kid? he made a circus out of real concerns.
Don't be so harsh,despite a bent towards recklessness he was a good soul with a good heart.A circus out of real concerns?Telling children that animals are important and to protect them in a world where people set puppies on fire,I think the world needs more people with his passion.Perhaps he felt the only way he could draw attention to conservation was to be a grandstanding idiot,IMO he was a pretty neat grandstanding idiot.
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:03 pm
by The Laughing Man
I'm sure he knew the risks, and chose to venture them, and I'm also sure his family will be well provided for.
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:23 pm
by Creator
rest in peace