Heritage Album

Did you know Steve Irwin is dead? What a shame...report inside the question.?

'Crocodile Hunter' Irwin killed The naturalist worked to protect Australian wildlife Irwin with tiger cubs Australian environmentalist and television personality Steve Irwin has died during a diving accident. Mr Irwin, 44, was killed by a stingray barb to the chest while he was filming an underwater documentary in Queensland's Great Barrier Reef. Paramedics from the nearby city of Cairns rushed to treat him at the scene but were unable to save him. Mr Irwin was known for his television show The Crocodile Hunter and his work with native Australian wildlife. Police in Queensland confirmed the naturalist's death and said his family had been notified. Mr Irwin was married with two young children. "It is believed that Mr Irwin collapsed after being stung by a stingray at Batt Reef off Port Douglas at about 1100 (0100 GMT)," a police statement quoted by AFP news agency said. "His crew called for medical treatment and the Queensland medical helicopter responded. However Mr Irwin had died." The stingray is a flat, triangular-shaped fish, commonly found in tropical waters. Mr Irwin's documentaries were shown around the world It gets its name from the razor-sharp barb at the end of its tail, coated in toxic venom, which the animal uses to defend itself with when it feels threatened. Although deadly, such attacks on humans are a rarity. David Penberthy, editor of the Sydney Daily Telegraph, told the BBC he had never heard of anyone in Australia being killed by a stingray before. "You know we still at this early stage don't know what type of stingray it was, or, you know I guess given the bloke's track record, whether he was getting up close and personal with it as well," Mr Penberty said. "Or whether it was just a total freak accident and in the course of making this nature documentary he just ended up being attacked." Documentaries Mr Irwin had built up what was a small reptile park in Queensland into what is now Australia Zoo, a major centre for Australian wildlife. He was famous for handling dangerous creatures such as crocodiles, snakes and spiders, and his documentaries on his work with crocodiles drew a worldwide audience. But he also courted controversy with a series of stunts. He sparked outrage across Australia after cradling his one-month-old son a metre away from the reptile during a show at Australia Zoo. A probe was also launched to investigate whether Mr Irwin and his team interacted too closely with penguins and whales while filming in the Antarctic, but no action was taken. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer praised Mr Irwin for his work to promote Australia. "The minister knew him, was fond of him and was very, very appreciative of all the work he'd done to promote Australia overseas," Mr Downer's spokesman said.

Public Comments

1. He'll be missed by all
2. Yes, very sad...~.~
3. Most unfortunate...A great loss
4. It is a great loss to the wildlife societies of the world. He has invloved in studying the animals behavious and physiology, learned about the animals and informed about the animals to the world. His loss should not be compensate with anything for their family and the hosted nation, Australia. We submit our condolences to his family members and his organisation associated.
5. This is shocking and even though I never met the guy I still feel obligated to mourn the guy to an extent. I used to watch his show and appreciated his enthusiasm for wildlife.
6. May he rest in peace
7. I read that tonight and am quite sad. Anyone who loves animals and conservation as much as he does was truly one of the good guys. He was entertaining and informative, and I will miss him.
8. He was a Friend I never met Here is a quiet thought for his wife and family and Friends
9. Oh yes , its terribly sad for his wife and Kids whom must have really loved there Dad, - he is bigger than life isnt he. A well loved figure, Much like Sir Peter Blake From the ocean races in that they had very rewarding lives giving much of there world , to people like us,What exitement !!for us. Thanks boys !
10. yes it is so sad. i feel like a part of me is missing. he was the AWESOMEST, COOLEST, aussie guy ever!!! when i read the article it felt like it was impossible. it made me real sad.
11. SYDNEY (AFP) - World-renowned Australian "crocodile hunter" and television environmentalist Steve Irwin has been killed by a stingray on the famed Great Barrier Reef, police said. ADVERTISEMENT The iconic Irwin, 44, known for his enthusiastic handling of even the deadliest of wildlife, was killed when a stingray barb punctured his chest during the filming of an underwater documentary off the coast of the northeastern Australian state of Queensland. "It is believed that Mr Irwin collapsed after being stung by a stingray at Batt Reef off Port Douglas at about 11:00 am (0100 GMT). He had been filming a documentary," a statement from the Queensland Police Service said. "After being stung by a stingray, his crew called for medical treatment and the Queensland medical helicopter responded, however Mr Irwin had died," the statement added. Stingrays have several sharp and highly toxic barbs on their tails that they use to defend themselves when they feel threatened. "(They) are also like a bayonet, like a bayonet on a rifle," Australian wildlife filmmaker David Ireland said. "If it hits any vital organs it's as deadly as a bayonet." Ambulance service officials said Irwin had suffered a puncture wound to the left side of his chest and he was immediately pronounced dead. Police said the larger-than-life Irwin's family had been informed of his death. Irwin was married to US-born Terri Irwin and the couple had two children aged eight and three. Irwin's widow was informed of his death while hiking in Tasmania, police said. The garrulous animal-lover's rallying cry of "crikey" when faced with a crocodile, snake or ferocious-looking spider, made him an Australian icon across the world. His "Crocodile Hunter" show, in which the tousle-haired adventurer appeared in his trademark khaki shorts and shirt, was first broadcast in 1992 and has been shown around the world on the Discovery cable network ever since. His outspoken persona became so popular that he won a cameo role in a Hollywood movie, "Dr Dolittle 2," starring US comic actor Eddie Murphy. Irwin, who was born in the southern Australian city of Melbourne, was raised in Queensland by parents who owned small reptile park that he would eventually take over. The young Irwin became a crocodile trapper, ridding residential areas of their reptilian threats for a fee. Irwin's fearless approach to the animal kingdom however provoked international outrage when he involved his infant son in one of his death-defying antics. In early 2004, he fed a four-metre (13-foot) crocodile with one hand while clutching his baby son Bob in the other during a show at his Australia Zoo reptile park on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland state. But Irwin was unrepentant when confronted about the incident in an interview. "What I would do differently is I would make sure there were no cameras around," he said. "I will continue to educate my children and the children of the world so they don't go into the water with crocs." Australia immediately mourned the loss of one of its best-known sons, with shocked radio listeners and television viewers calling in to express their grief and disbelief. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who used a photograph of his family at Irwin's zoo on his official Christmas card last year, praised Irwin, who has appeared in public service announcements and worldwide events aimed at promoting Australian tourism. "The minister knew him, was fond of him and was very, very appreciative of all the work he'd done to promote Australia overseas," a spokesman said. And Queensland's Tourism Minister Margaret Keech summed up Australia's reaction to Irwin's sudden death. "He's done so much for Australia and he'll be missed by the entire world," she told Sky television.
12. http://youtube.com/watch?v=pfT1503pQRw
13. I think for the majority of us, although we do not know him in person, we still feel so connected to him through his documentaries and appearances,. He is such a genuine, determined, big-hearted man, and I admire his passionate and friendly nature. He was one of the, if not best, greatest well-known conservationists. He'll be sorely missed and I mourn for him and his family. I grew up watching the crocodile hunter, and I never expected to see his death so soon and sudden. Like the majority, I always thought he seemed invincible. Larger than life. Glasses shall be raised in his honour. Rest in peace, Mr Irwin.
14. He started acting bizarre in world media tho
15. maravichi Level 6 i will never forget the image of steve irwin talking to the camera while sharks were in a feeding frenzy all around him while he stood in the water...the guy was a crazy kook but he was fascinating, funny and very entertaining...i kind of felt one day his luck would run out the way he took risks dealing with wildlife but i would never have guessed it would take a stingray to be the culprit....my condolences to his friends and family....he was one of a kind and his legacy will continue as his shows run on animal planet
16. You know, it's really sad that someone like him, who benefited society, was killed so early on in his life. I wish it had been some psycho murderer that had died in his place. I didn't know him or anything, but he definitely seemed to be a good guy. Plus, now his wife and his kids are never going to get to see him again. It's really just so crazy that he spent all of his life taking risks, and now he died swimming with a creature that he thought was harmless.
17. Rest in peace, Steve Irwin, from someone who watched your show since young
18. Rest in peace Steve Irwin.
19. It's sad he had to depart so soon, wife and 2 kids. May Steve Irwin rest in peace.
20. I was very sad to hear about this.
21. ya its a real shame,he was one of the guys was trying to save our planet
22. So sad to hear that Steve Irwin has died. My thoughts are with his family. Im sure he will be missed by every one who enjoyed his programes.
23. I heard that he was dead, just on the internet when I logged on....that's CRAZY!!! I can't believe that/ Crikey!!
24. i loved this guy. last night when i saw it on the internet i couldnt believe my eyes. :'( I kept thinking about him all night. may he rest in peace.