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Dr Nat · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 1834 Location: Klang Valley

Quote: Crocodile Hunter killed by stingray

CAIRNS (Australia): Steve Irwin, the ebullient Australian whose catch cry of "Crikey!" helped him rise to global fame as television's Crocodile Hunter, was killed yesterday by a stingray while filming on the Great Barrier Reef. He was 44.

Irwin was in the water at Batt Reef shooting a segment for a series called Ocean's Deadliest when he swam too close to one of the rays, which have a poisonous barb on their tails, said John Stainton, a friend and colleague.

"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, Croc One, at the time.

Crewmembers called emergency services and administered CPR as they rushed 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 for regularly getting up close and personal with dangerous animals in his television programme Crocodile Hunter, which was first broadcast in Australia in 1992 before it was picked up by the Discovery network, catapulting him to international celebrity status.

"he world has lost a great wildlife icon, a passionate conservationist and one of the proudest dads on the planet," Stainton told reporters. "He died doing what he loved best."

Prime Minister John Howard, who handpicked Irwin to attend a gala barbecue to honour US President George W. 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."

Irwin, who made a trademark of hovering dangerously close to untethered crocodiles, often leaping on their backs, talked a mile-a-minute in a thick Australian drawl and was almost never seen in anything but 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.

He rode the lovable knockabout image in 2002 into a feature film, The Crocodile Hunters: Collision Course, and developed the wildlife park that his parents opened, Australia Zoo, into a major tourist attraction.

Irwin was born on Feb 22, 1962, in the southern city of Melbourne. He moved when he was eight with his parents to tropical Queensland.

He worked as a crocodile trapper in his 20s, removing problematic animals from populated areas. In 1991, he took over the Australia Zoo, set up by his parents.

News of Irwin's death spread quickly, and tributes flowed in.

At Australia Zoo in Queensland, flowers were dropped at the entrance; 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.

Stainton said Irwin's American wife Terri had been informed of his death, and had told their daughter Bindi Sue, eight, and son Bob, who will turn three in December.

The couple met when she was on vacation in Australia in 1991 and visited Irwin's Australia Zoo. They were married six months later. - AP
Taken from: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/9/5/apworld/15335877&sec=apworld

Dr Nat · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 1834 Location: Klang Valley

I was really shocked to hear the news about his tragic death last Monday. He has done this world better by promoting awareness on wildlife conservation worldwide. The world has just lost another true life HERO.

Dr. TanDY · Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:34 am Post subject:

Agree Dr Nat. I feel very sorry for his family too. Irwin was really bad luck that day.

Dr Dunker · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 466 Location: Puchong,Selangor

many of us may have been watching animal planet and discovery channel for years. i for one have been following the series via astro for more then 5 years. i thought him to be an immortal mad nut. but an amazing nut all the same. i had once wish to be in the wild life as a vet. and indeed i spent many weeks as a student working in zoos and bird parks. although i never really got to b a wild life vet i still do marval at his skills when i flip on the tv from time to time. he was a man that can never b harmed. he was almost god like in his abilities. so his death was a blow not just to me but to many others as well. as one friend of mine put it. "he should have died many years ago doing what he did" i guess his life mission have been accomplished hence he was called home. i guess he would never want to die old and helpless in bed, he have been given the ultimate honor of dieing for what he believed in, for what he loved. many of us would never b that lucky. to the last day, he was loved, many of us can not say the same for ourself when our last day come. so as the man would say "crocks rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Indeed Stev-o, crocks rule...u rest in peace. others can take it form here.