Very sad

 

Last Updated: Monday, 4 September 2006, 06:17 GMT 07:17 UK

 

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'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 11:00 am (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."

 

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.

 

 

Mr Irwin's documentaries were shown around the world

 

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.

Edited September 4, 200619 yr by HR

Live by the sword.

The guy was a nutter; in the nicest possible way. I guess he's died as he would have wished to. RIP

The guy was a nutter; in the nicest possible way. I guess he's died as he would have wished to. RIP

Aye there was no way this fella was dying of natural causes!!

Aye there was no way this fella was dying of natural causes!!

 

I personally thought his death would have come from being mauled by a 15ft croc rather than a 'sting' from a stingray! Mad as a wasp he was! Tragic loss though!

I'll tell you what, I'm genuinely gutted. He always seemed like a decent bloke doing a job he loved. It's a damn shame!

I am gutted, this fella is a hero of mine!

The man was a legend.

Mad as a bucket of frogs but a legend all the same.

 

RIP Steve.

I personally thought his death would have come from being mauled by a 15ft croc rather than a 'sting' from a stingray! Mad as a wasp he was! Tragic loss though!

 

was a sting direct to the heart though...

was a sting direct to the heart though...

 

 

I bet the crocodiles are gutted they didnt get him first.

Steve Irwin was indeed a crazy person, but didnt you just admire him.

I regularly watched his documentarys, and have several dvd's etc, not just for the kids, but because i just liked his style.

I too would have thought his death wouldve been crocodile related. But tell me this folks.......would it have been fitting for him to die any other way then doing what he lived and breathed for.

Mr Irwin, its not often i genuinely like someone from tv/film etc that ive never met, but you broke the mould, brilliant, funny,intelligent and caring. RIP.

poor b??stard

 

however, it seemed a fitting tribute to watch shark attack and bear attack videos all morning on you tube

 

feckin crazy

I always found the guy very watchable,until he made a piece of film dangling his baby daughter right under the nose of a 15 foot crocodile, after that i just thought he was a cock.

apparently his funeral music has already been chosen by his wife.

 

The song is Crocodile Rock, and its going to be sung by Sting

Sad indeed, total nutter, great entertainer etc, will be missed

apparently his funeral music has already been chosen by his wife.

 

The song is Crocodile Rock, and its going to be sung by Sting

 

Speaking of his wife - guess this is as close to a shag she will get for a while.

 

 

Sorry, in bad taste that

I am gutted, this fella is a hero of mine!

 

I met Irwin whilst travelling round Australia a year ago. He was one of the nicest guys

i have ever met. he loved his job heaps and had loads of stories to tell . His shows at Australia Zoo were really good too. Since i met him i watched his programmes on the t.v. He loved his job and loved life

life in general so was genuinly gutted this morning when i heard the news!

 

 

STEVO R.I.P MATE

Talk about bad bad luck....

 

Attacks on humans are a rarity - only one other person is known to have died in Australia from a stingray attack, at St Kilda, Melbourne in 1945.

Cant beleive it myself thougt he was bad as toast

 

But like someone said above he died doing what he loved best

 

RIP Steve

Cant beleive it myself thougt he was BAD AS TOAST

 

 

 

RIP Steve

 

As bad as toast? Never heard that one before ::::::::::::::

Sounds as Daft as a thrush to me.

apparently his funeral music has already been chosen by his wife.

 

The song is Crocodile Rock, and its going to be sung by Sting

 

 

:::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::

Should have worn sun cream

 

 

 

 

blocks harmful rays...

Edited September 4, 200619 yr by HomerJay