R.I.P - The Crocodile Hunter

Ralliart · Post by **Ralliart** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:09 pm

Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin dead
By staff writers
September 04, 2006 02:14pm

THE Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, is dead.

He was killed in a freak accident in Cairns, police sources said today.

It is understood he was killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest.

He was swimming off the Low Isles at Port Douglas filming an underwater documentary when the tragedy occured.

Ambulance officers confirmed they attended a reef fatality this morning at Batt Reef off Port Douglas.

Irwin's body is being flown to Cairns.

It is believed his American-born wife Terri is trekking on Cradle Mountain in Tasmania and is yet to be told of her husband's death.

Irwin - known worldwide as the Crocodile Hunter - is famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchcry "Crikey!".

The father of two's Crocodile Hunter program was first broadcast in 1992 and has been shown around the world on cable network Discovery.

He has also starred in movies and has developed the Australia Zoo wildlife park, north of Brisbane, which was started by his parents Bob and Lyn Irwin.

Tributes have already started pouring in for the larger-than-life character.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who used a photograph of his family at Australia Zoo for his official Christmas card last year, hailed Mr Irwin for his work in promoting Australia.

Irwin was heavily involved in last year's "G'Day LA" campaign.

"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.

A Tourism Queensland spokeswoman said the death was shocking and paid tribute to Irwin's "enormous contribution" to his adopted state.

Louise Yates said it was impossible to quantify how much Mr Irwin had meant to the Queensland tourism industry.

"I don't think we could even estimate how much he brought us through his personality and his profile and his enthusiasm about Queensland," she said.

"It would be difficult to estimate how much he was worth. And it would be difficult to underestimate."

She said Irwin had been a larger-than-life ambassador.

"It's not just what he brought but what he took with him when he travelled, his passion."

Australia Zoo, on southeast Queensland's Sunshine Coast, employs more than 500 people and attracts thousands of visitors every day.

But Ms Yates said it would be "unfair and unjust" to put a dollar value on Irwin's worth to the state, because of how much he had given.

With The Courier Mail and AAP

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

grimey · Post by **grimey** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:56 pm

Not saying that I'm happy to see he's dead, far from it, he's got 2 kids and I can't imagine what they're going through. But is anyone at all suprised?

grimey · Post by **grimey** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 11:19 pm

BTW, if anyone has a totalfark account, don't bother using it for the next 3 days.

I Like Myself · Post by **I Like Myself** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 11:23 pm

What the hell?
Everyone loved that guy.

Golden Flyer · Post by **Golden Flyer** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 3:47 am

EVERYONE loves that guy. I thought he was a cool dude... on those days that I saw him on tv when I was a kid, he kept me very entertained!

Sulako · Post by **Sulako** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:53 am

He was a good man and a colorful character, that's for sure. So long Steve.

Vector2ILS · Post by **Vector2ILS** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:59 am

That's crazy! too bad. he was very entertaining.

scm · Post by **scm** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:32 am

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-p ... 311298.stm

teacher · Post by **teacher** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:47 am

It is a freak accident as Sting Ray barbs are very hard to be nailed with unless you grab their tail or step on them. It's not like a bee that means to sting you, it's a reflex like getting hit in the knee during your medical. I swam with sting rays and they are rather docile.

http://www.stingraycitytrips.com/photo_ ... ndex.shtml
http://www.photostogo.com/content/topse ... photos.asp

Just one of those 1 in a million things.

RIP Steve.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 3:11 pm

The film was called "Oceans Deadliest"...phackkkk. Poor guy, I love watching his shows. So outgoing, loved what he did...RIP Steve.

flyinhigh · Post by **flyinhigh** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:57 pm

Yup he was known world wide as you may tell from this. Kinda funny that I found out about it from this site.

http://bcpapers.tricubemedia.net/thunde ... pid=573874

co-joe · Post by **co-joe** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 7:01 pm

Surprised he's dead? Hell no, I'm surprised he lived as long as he did. Live by the crocodile..die by the...stingray? WTF over?

jet a1 · Post by **jet a1** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:40 pm

just watched "grizzly man" the other night. made the comment about steve irwin and what he does too. to bad, really good guy by what i'd seen. thoughts are with his wife and kids.
jet.

Justwannafly · Post by **Justwannafly** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:46 pm

teacher wrote:It is a freak accident as Sting Ray barbs are very hard to be nailed with unless you grab their tail or step on them. It's not like a bee that means to sting you, it's a reflex like getting hit in the knee during your medical. I swam with sting rays and they are rather docile.

http://www.stingraycitytrips.com/photo_ ... ndex.shtml
http://www.photostogo.com/content/topse ... photos.asp

Just one of those 1 in a million things.

RIP Steve.

He's only the 18th person EVER in the world recorded to have been kill'd by a Stingray

Complete Freek accident

mellow_pilot · Post by **mellow_pilot** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:51 pm

If it wasn't so tradgic it'd almost be embarrasing.

jetway · Post by **jetway** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 7:43 am

He was a reeeaaaal Rippah, a reeeal bute... Long live the legend of one heckavuh fine man. He will be missed.

Rubberbiscuit · Post by **Rubberbiscuit** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:06 am

Very sad! Had an unbelivable passion and dedication for his family and the nature. Will miss his entertaing character for sure. RIP Steve.

Vector2ILS · Post by **Vector2ILS** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:12 am

RIP Steve.[/quote]

He's only the 18th person EVER in the world recorded to have been kill'd by a Stingray

Complete Freek accident

[/quote]

Wow! only 18 ever? That is so tragic!

Maybe his son or daugther will follow in his foot steps.

Crowbaby · Post by **Crowbaby** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:59 am

Hard to believe. His passion for his life's work was obvious, if he had to go at least he was doing what he loved. Thoughts and prayers to his family.

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:56 pm

flyinhigh wrote:Yup he was known world wide as you may tell from this.

So worldwide that it made the front page headline on the local paper over here in West Africa and our local drivers were saying "crikey!" all day...

greykin2 · Post by **greykin2** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:18 pm

One of the most annoying people ever to grace the TV/movie screen. He was an automatic channel-flip for me. Couldn't stand his obvious exaggeration of the Aussie accent.

scm · Post by **scm** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 5:32 am

greykin2 wrote:One of the most annoying people ever to grace the TV/movie screen. He was an automatic channel-flip for me. Couldn't stand his obvious exaggeration of the Aussie accent.

is this really required?

IDF · Post by **IDF** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 8:40 am

I guess greykin 2 has the right to his opinion....let it be.

I personally enjoyed him. He was a real character and his enthusiam also kind of rubbed off on me.

I spent a lot of time in the African bush getting really close to dangerous mammals and even deadlier reptiles and so respected what he did for a living. It is an extremely enjoyable and fulfilling experience.

Vector2ILS · Post by **Vector2ILS** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 8:44 am

Yeah, everyone has a right to their own opinion, but show some respect man.

greykin2 · Post by **greykin2** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 10:26 am

Vector2ILS wrote:Yeah, everyone has a right to their own opinion, but show some respect man.

That was my honest opinion. Nothing more, and nothing less. Deal with it. (What other Aussie have you ever heard that talked with that thick of an accent? I can't think of a single one. Guess the pumped up accent must have sounded more exotic to North Americans, and thus sold more seats at the box office.)