Crocodile Hunter killed in marine accident

Just read this...


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060904/...ralia_irwin_dc

Not the way I thought he was gonna go out...

OMG!! That did not really just happen? Holy Crappola, I am so sorry to hear that, he was a great guy. :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

-Danny

oh my gosh! i cannot believe that! that truly is sad. i grew up 'with' Steve irwin. he was like my hero!

OMG!!!! I don't care what other people thought of him...I still loved him! I can't believe this really has happened!!!....waiting for someone to say it's all a hoax.....:(

thats very sad.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14663786/
its also on cnn's web site, there top story

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapc...win/index.html


Rest in peace friend.

People may not like to admit it, but Mr. Irwin did a lot for animals all over the world.



RIP Steve Irwin, you'll be missed.:(

Holy crap! I keep thinking it's a hoax, too... no way!

Thats sad, I saw it on two other news sites, sad ending.

Wow thats a hard way to go :( .Besides the stunt placing his kid by the gator i thought he was pretty cool.What a loss

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapc...win/index.html

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20349888-2,00.html

sad day

I just was told this by a friend,a nd it absolutely floors me. Despite the fact that lots of folks here don't think highly of him, he really was a great generous man. Full of energy and willing to do anything for a critter. He really loved all animals.
This is a huge loss to the reptile world too. He genuinely cared about and did all he could to advance the cause.
Teri and his father must be completely devestated, not to mention the two kids.
Wolfy(sad sad indeed)

We all should send a huge thank you to Steve for what he has done for the herpatological society in the US. I will be the first one to say Thank You Steve and he should be remembered for his great times Always!!!

He was an awesome person. I personally think it a bit tasteless that the news report seems to feel it necesary to bring that one incident up. Like, this guy did SO much good, and they feel the need to drag up the ONLY thing.
Generous and giving and caring. We lost a great asset to the reptile community.
Wolfy(in mourning, and feeling great sorrow for Teri and Bindi and little Bob)

I just finished reading an article on it and I'm still in shock....... It's a very sad thing and I just hope people remember all the conservation and understanding of animals that he thought so many.

wow that's insane...and we all thought a croc was gonna take him out.....RIP dude.

i always thought it would be some species of brown snake. either way its terribly sad.

Wow, thats awful.. 2 little ones at home too.. I always figured he would be killed by a croc, never imagined it would be a stingay??

has anyone else noticed that if you google "steve irwin death" that on the first page alone there's like 2 websites that state his death has been rumored many times and then goes on to say he;s alive and well i australia? i dont know.

i guess its true if its on CNN though.

When I first saw this news I just thought "Again?" because there's been so many Irwin death rumors in the past... it still seems unreal to me, even though it's all over the "real" news... wow... :(

Steve Irwin may have upset some folks but the fact is he brought a lot of good attention to the plight of a animals over the years. As well he was someone's son, friend, husband and father and for that alone his time was far too short. This must be a horrific shock for his wife and children and my heart goes out to them all at this most difficult of times.

Very sad.

Very sad. I feel for his family. Somewhat ironic that he was killed by a creature that is generally not thought of as dangerous.

That is the first thing I saw when I opened up my email this morning. I'm shocked, but glad the guy made it that/this long doing what he has been doing. I mean I think everyone knew he was going to get it one day, but I guess that day finally came. I didn't think he was going to leave this world the way he did. Very sad since I alway love(ed) watching his shows since when he first got on TV.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MedusasOwl

When I first saw this news I just thought "Again?" because there's been so many Irwin death rumors in the past... it still seems unreal to me, even though it's all over the "real" news... wow... :(

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Same here! I didn't want to believe CNN.com for once! :(
I was so hoping it wasn't real, but I know it is.

:O Nu uh! Gosh dangit.......... Poor Teri, little Bob ,and bindi!!! !!!!! I wanted to meet him so badly!!!! This is so sad!!! :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( At least he died doing what he loves to do......

RIP Bucko!!

Wow, that's sad; I never expected this. At least he went out doing what he loved; sad though for his family.

thats so sad i wanted to meet him too, i wish it werent real, hes done so much for the reptile world.:(

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

Media reports say Irwin was snorkeling at Batt Reef, a part of the Great Barrier Reef about 9 miles (about 15 kilometers) from the town of Port Douglas, when the incident happened on Monday morning.

Irwin, 44, was killed by a stingray barb that pierced his chest, according to Cairns police sources.

Irwin was in the area to film pieces for a show called "Ocean's Deadliest" with Phillippe Cousteau, grandson of Jacques, Irwin's manager and friend John Stainton told CNN's "American Morning." But weather had prevented the crew from doing work for that program, said Stainton, so Irwin decided to do some softer features for a new children's TV show he was doing with his daughter, Bindi.

"He came over the top of a stingray that was buried in the sand, and the barb came up and hit him in the chest," said Stainton.

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 Australia 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.

"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, according to The Associated Press. "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!' "

Australia Prime Minister John Howard said he was "shocked and distressed at Steve Irwin's sudden, untimely and freakish death," according to AP. "It's a huge loss to Australia."

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!"

"His message is really about conservation: He really wants to leave the world a better place for everybody," Animal Planet's Maureen Smith told CNN.com in April.

"It's unbelievable, really," Jack Hanna, the host of "Jack Hanna's Animal Adventure" and director emeritus of the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo, told CNN. "You think of Steve Irwin and you think 'invincible.' "

Hanna, a friend of Irwin's, noted that Irwin's persona of the Crocodile Hunter was no act. Irwin grew up around crocodiles, snakes and other animals at his parents' Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park and had been handling such creatures since he was a child.

"The guy lived his life this way," said Hanna. "It was how he was raised. You knew that this guy, from the time he was 8 or 9 years old, was working with crocodiles and snakes."

Though stingrays can be threatening, their sting -- usually prompted by self-defense -- is not often fatal. The bull ray that apparently stung Irwin was "a one-in-a-million thing," wildlife documentary maker Ben Cropp told TIME. "I have swum with many rays, and I have only had one do that to me."

"A wild animal is like a loaded gun -- it can go off at any time," Hanna told CNN. "You have to be careful of that." But, he added, it's not the animals who are inherently dangerous, but the way they may react around humans. "It's not fair to the animal. It's only using the defenses that God gave it," said Hanna.

Rise to popularity
Irwin first became popular with his show "Crocodile Hunter," which first aired on Australian TV in 1992. Eventually, the program was picked up by the Discovery Network in the United States, establishing Irwin worldwide.

His popularity led to a film, "The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course" (2002).

Irwin's 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.

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.' "

At Australia Zoo at Beerwah, south Queensland, floral tributes were dropped at the entrance, where a huge fake crocodile gapes, the AP reported. 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, according to the AP.

"He has left a legacy," Stainton told CNN. "That people do love some of the unloved animals like crocodiles and reptiles that people wanted to kill. He's actually put a position in their hearts for them. I want that to continue. ... I want people to really go out there and remember Steve Irwin for what he really was, which was a great conservationist, saving wildlife and actually promoting wildlife that people didn't love."





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I think he was careless sometimes, but it's still sad. At least he died doing what he loved.

R.I.P. Steve Irwin

It would have been a sad irony if he had been killed by one of the reptiles he loved so much. Instead it is a fish that killed him.

The one programme that stands out in my mind, is when he was both angry and saddened by the plight of the poor Cobras who had been defanged and were being used as performing snakes:( You could tell he was close to tears at their plight.

He has taken away many of the "demons" surrounding reptiles, in particular snakes. He saw them for what they were - beautiful, graceful, fascinating animals. Somehow, I think in their own way they knew that. He always seemed to be at one with snakes.

It is just so sad:(

My heart goes out to his wife Terri and their children Bindi and Bob:(

My he rest in peace.
I loved watching his show, and yes while he sometimes was a little over the edge he loved animals and did a lot to educate people and to help wildlife the world over.

The wildlife community has suffered a huge loss.

RIP Steve Irwin.

Good man.....he did great things in the animal community. He will be missed.

Very sad day to lose someone like Steve Irwin in this world.

I just finished an autobiography he wrote with his wife, and the passion he had for the crocs all over the world dripped off of every page. He had a powerful love for them and his family. You just know that when the ray hit him he was thinking "It's alright mate, that's what nature taught you to do", as someone said on another forum I read. Very sad, he was a wonderful asset and the reason I became interested in reptiles.

I am absolutely in shock. One of my fondest memories is watching Kevin hand Steve a Bumblebee, and hearing his trademark, "Isn't she GORGEOUS???" As well as, "I can't believe this is a ball python!" Steve was easily one of the most passionate, animal-crazy folks I've ever met...it's hard to believe we're now mourning his passing.


http://newenglandreptile.com/forumpics/steve1.jpg

http://newenglandreptile.com/forumpics/steve2.jpg

http://newenglandreptile.com/forumpics/steve3.jpg

http://newenglandreptile.com/forumpics/steve4.jpg

K~

I am still in shock. The first thing on Comcast news was this horrible accident. I feel sorry for his family, friends (especially Wez), zoomates, and his animals which he had so much passion taking care of. At least he will never be forgotten. My prayers are with him.

That is sad. I bet he would want his body to be fed to the crocs in the zoo because half of them have almost got him in the past!!:partyon:

Anyways....Kara I'd forgotten that you and Kev met Steve Irwin and this must come as a terrible shock to you both. I imagine he was one of those people that one meets so rarely in life that just never leave your mind again. His life will be mourned by so many that he touched through his work, his zoo, his tv shows and appearances but none so much as those that truly knew and loved the man behind the Croc Hunter. My heart hurts today for his lovely wife and two beautiful children as well as all his dear friends that must now carry on his work and his dreams.

He'll be remembered for ever I think. I read a biography about him 2 years back and I couldn't put the book down. He is an amazing man and he will never be forgotten!!! 3 Cheers for his bravery!!!

It's a really sad day for me. He was one of my idols and a reason I love animals. He has given so much to this world and his loss is just devastating. He is one of those few individuals who served as a shining example and my thoughts are with his family. RIP Steve Irwin.

I'm am stunned.....and so deeply saddened by this. Steve was an extraordinarily rare individual and the world is so much poorer with his passing. My heart aches for his wife and children and all those at the Australian Zoo who knew him as family.


I'm just so sad.... :rainon:

(~sigh~ Kara, I will do what I can to clean this thread up. Folks, some of your replies may disappear as well, otherwise removing the offensive ones would have little affect. So please understand.)

i'm in tears. i just kept reading each page of this thread waiting, hoping for someone to say "GOTCHA"

he always freaked me out with his passion... i'd be jumping back from the tv at times LOL --- but he showed me, taught me sooooo much. i'm sure going to miss his face and voice on the tv.

we even own his movie cause the kids loved it so much.

personally i never believed for a moment that a critter would get him. cause i honestly believe that while he made me jump, he knew what he was doing... hearing about how this happened... with a critter you wouldn't normally be leery of... makes me even sadder. my heart breaks for us all... but esp his wife and children.

(although, i think this is a better way for him to go than some stray bullet in a big city)

It is a really sad day for the Reptile & Animal world..... https://ball-pythons.net/forums/imag...lies/frown.gif

We should all be thankful for what he has done for us hobbiest and what he was striving to do.

He sure will be missed.

I just cant bolive what Im reading!!! Im just so so sad I never have been so sad for the death of somebody that I never bet. I realy can bolive these. One of my dreams was to go to Australia zoo and bet him in person, or jut stresh and his arm. I m just so sad....!!! :'(:'( he was like my hero!! I grow up whaching hes shows and most things I know of snakes and reptiles was from hes shows, I think he was who realy put me in the herp world OMG!! cant bolive these

Quote:

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

personally i never believed for a moment that a critter would get him. cause i honestly believe that while he made me jump, he knew what he was doing... hearing about how this happened... with a critter you wouldn't normally be leery of... makes me even sadder. my heart breaks for us all... but esp his wife and children.

(although, i think this is a better way for him to go than some stray bullet in a big city)

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I grew up watching his show, it's a huge shock but I know that when he saw the ray, he didn't blame it for a second - he's just that kind of guy. I like that through this thread, no one is blaming the animal for doing only what he thought to do.
My day is sadder now that he's gone, I was hoping and hoping it would only be a hoax :(

What this means now is that the reptile community no longer has such a great personality to be its face, and we all have to continue the work he's been doing for us. I also suggest to everybody to read his biography, it is full of the passion and education we should all give to others and our reptiles. He was a great man and it's terrible he had to leave this world and his family far too soon.

Quote:

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What this means now is that the reptile community no longer has such a great personality to be its face, and we all have to continue the work he's been doing for us.

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On the contrary...the reptile community now has MANY great personalities and faces to carry on and build from BECAUSE of Steve. The two main things I see and encourage others to strive for is education and conservation which is what this man was all about.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KLG

I am absolutely in shock. One of my fondest memories is watching Kevin hand Steve a Bumblebee, and hearing his trademark, "Isn't she GORGEOUS???" As well as, "I can't believe this is a ball python!" Steve was easily one of the most passionate, animal-crazy folks I've ever met...it's hard to believe we're now mourning his passing.


http://newenglandreptile.com/forumpics/steve1.jpg

http://newenglandreptile.com/forumpics/steve2.jpg

http://newenglandreptile.com/forumpics/steve3.jpg

http://newenglandreptile.com/forumpics/steve4.jpg

K~

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Oh Kara im so sorry!! Please tell Kev im so sorry!!!! Do you have a pic of him holding the bee?

Sad day for his family, friends, and fans. I enjoy and admire his enthusiasm and love for animals. He will be greatly missed.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14663786/?GT1=8506

It is really hard to believe.
I hope his wife and kids are okay, that cannot be easy no matter who you are.
Rusty