Reports: Stingray kills 'Crocodile Hunter'

[bretonbanquet]

I'm a little bit surprised, primarily that he was killed by such a relatively harmless cretaure. I say relatively harmless - rays hurt people, but very few people get killed by them. Considering the lethal creatures he's handled in his time, I suspect he might be a bit miffed to go out on the barb of a ray. RIP, Mr Irwin.

[goldustsongbird]

Well, I'm not saying it was deserved or that he 'had it coming', but he did take a lot of chances with his work. It was clear he knew what he was doing, though. Like someone else said... He tangled and wrangled with all of these other, far more dangerous animals, and a friggin' sting ray , of all things, gets him? . I liked him and I'm glad he was able to do what he always wanted to do with his life.

[Miss Vicky]

Originally Posted by Kelly

Eh, he took some risks. However, alot of his show was choregraphed and he had a huge staff that helped him, etc.

You can't coreograph what wild animals are going to do.

The only thing that surprised me about his death was that it was caused by a stingray. I would've thought for sure that his demise would have been the result of a venomous snake (which he had the habit of grabbing with his bare hands and I've seen him get bit by snakes on his show on many occasions) or by a crocodile (I've seen him get bit by these as well).

Also, in the beginning, when the show was just 'The Crocodile Hunter' most of the program was shot out in the Australian bush, not at his zoo. The focus only switched to the zoo when it became 'Crocodile Hunter Diaries' but even then he still shot a lot of programming out in the animals' native habitat. He also seemed to travel more in the later episodes and began filming in places like Africa and South America.

[Enchanted_Stevi]

I went on www.animalplanet.com and went to the Steve Irwin story. There is going to be a tribute on Animal Planet at 6pm EST.

[Kelly]

Originally Posted by Miss Vicky

You can't coreograph what wild animals are going to do.

The only thing that surprised me about his death was that it was caused by a stingray. I would've thought for sure that his demise would have been the result of a venomous snake (which he had the habit of grabbing with his bare hands and I've seen him get bit by snakes on his show on many occasions) or by a crocodile (I've seen him get bit by these as well).

Also, in the beginning, when the show was just 'The Crocodile Hunter' most of the program was shot out in the Australian bush, not at his zoo. The focus only switched to the zoo when it became 'Crocodile Hunter Diaries' but even then he still shot a lot of programming out in the animals' native habitat. He also seemed to travel more in the later episodes and began filming in places like Africa and South America.

Of course you cannot cooreograph what a wild animal will do but you can cooreograph what HE was going to do and utilize all safety precautions possible. He did that. His crock shows were pretty similar everyday, he had six or seven people around the enclosure and I believe he was well trained and knew what he was doing. He took as many precautions as possible in his line of work. He was educated and had years of experience but of course, these things happen. Look how many lion/tiger trainers end up getting mauled by cats they have handled since birth. He definately took risks, I am not saying that he didn't...especially when he was out in the bush or Africa etc. I saw him get bit by a snake too...although he never struck me as quite as crazy with the snakes as that other blonde, Aussie guy on Animal Planet. That guy is a photographer, I think, and he is just nuts.
I am also surprised he was killed in such a freakish way, considering some of the other animals he worked with. Animals like sharks, crocks etc. When they said he got killed by a stingray on the news, I was like "whaaaaaa?". I feel so bad for his wife and children and I really hope they continue his legacy. No matter what you thought of him, his work with education, research, conservation, relocation, etc will be sorely missed.

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by Kelly

Of course you cannot cooreograph what a wild animal will do but you can cooreograph what HE was going to do and utilize all safety precautions possible. He did that. His crock shows were pretty similar everyday, he had six or seven people around the enclosure and I believe he was well trained and knew what he was doing. He took as many precautions as possible in his line of work. He was educated and had years of experience but of course, these things happen. Look how many lion/tiger trainers end up getting mauled by cats they have handled since birth. He definately took risks, I am not saying that he didn't...especially when he was out in the bush or Africa etc. I saw him get bit by a snake too...although he never struck me as quite as crazy with the snakes as that other blonde, Aussie guy on Animal Planet. That guy is a photographer, I think, and he is just nuts.
I am also surprised he was killed in such a freakish way, considering some of the other animals he worked with. Animals like sharks, crocks etc. When they said he got killed by a stingray on the news, I was like "whaaaaaa?". I feel so bad for his wife and children and I really hope they continue his legacy. No matter what you thought of him, his work with education, research, conservation, relocation, etc will be sorely missed.

In another article, Steve and one of his crew discussed the new dangers that being in the water posed. Steve was in his element on land, but in the water he was vulnerable, and its said that he speculated that if his time came, it would be in a water accident. Apparently there is footage of Steve pulling the barb out of his chest, losing consciousness and then dying. Pretty sad really.

I cant imagine anyone really thinking badly of the man Kelly can you?

[GODDESS6]

i must say i adore steve irwin & his family, my son & i have watched many, many hours of his shows & behind the scenes stuff~ & even tho it seemed what he was doing was dangerous, i never thought anyone knew animals like him~ & the passion he had for their well-being was inspirational~ i used to think crocs & alligators were useless & scary until watching his shows, the beauty he saw in them was awesome, & he taught me what "sheila" meant~ he will be sorely missed in this house by crickey!!!~
R.I.P. Stevo!!! ~

[Miss Vicky]

Originally Posted by Kelly

No matter what you thought of him, his work with education, research, conservation, relocation, etc will be sorely missed.

Not sure what the heck this is supposed to mean, since I already said what I "thought of him" - I said I was saddened and I described him as "dedicated and passionate."

Thems fightin' words, I guess.

[JazmenFlowers]

I sure hate that this has happened. He seemed like such a great person and a lover of animals. the relationship he had with his wife seemed to be very special as well. I heard, too, that being killed by a stingray is very, very rare. it just happened, as they said, to be bad luck that he was pierced in his chest. I've heard that he died instantly and then I heard that he was able to pull the barb out before he died. not sure which is true. sad sad sad. he has certainly been a staple in homes and will be missed.

[estranged4life]

Irwin pulled stingray barb from heart before dying on Great Barrier Reef


CAIRNS, Australia - Steve Irwin was videotaped pulling a poisonous stingray barb from his chest in his last moments of life, officials said Tuesday, as tributes poured in for TV's "Crocodile Hunter."

Police said there was nothing suspicious about Irwin's death and no evidence he provoked the animal. Irwin, 44, was stabbed through the heart on Monday while snorkeling with a stingray during filming of a new TV program on Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

John Stainton, Irwin's manager who was among the crew on the reef, said the fatal blow was caught on videotape, and described viewing the footage as having the "terrible" experience of watching a friend die.

"It shows that Steve came over the top of the ray and the tail came up, and spiked him here (in the chest), and he pulled it out and the next minute he's gone," Stainton told reporters in Cairns, where Irwin's body was taken for an autopsy.

Queensland state police were holding the tape as evidence for a coroner's inquiry - a standard procedure in high-profile deaths or those caused by other than natural causes.

Threats Irwin wasn't used to
Experts have said the stingray may have felt trapped between the cameraman and the TV star. Irwin, the popular host of "Crocodile Hunter," rose to fame by getting dangerously close to crocodiles, snakes and other beasts.

But Queensland Police Superintendent Michael Keating said there was no evidence Irwin threatened or intimidated the stingray, a normally placid species that only deploys its poisonous tail spines as a defense.

Stainton said Irwin was in his element in the Outback, but that he and Irwin had talked about the sea posing threats the star wasn't used to.

"If ever he was going to go, we always said it was going to be the ocean," Stainton said. "On land he was agile, quick-thinking, quick-moving and the ocean puts another element there that you have no control over."

Parliament took a break from the business of running the country to pay tribute to Irwin, whose body was being flown home Tuesday from Cairns. No funeral plans were announced but state Premier Peter Beattie said Irwin would be afforded a state funeral if his family agreed.

Irwin's American wife Terri, Bindi and their son Bob, almost 3, returned late Monday from a trekking vacation in Tasmania to Australia Zoo, the wildlife park where the family lived at Beerwah in Queensland's southeast.

'Our wildlife warrior'
At the park, hundreds of people filed past the entrance laying floral bouquets and handwritten condolence messages. Khaki shirts - a trademark of Irwin - were laid out for people to sign.

"Mate, you made the world a better place," read one poster left at the gate. "Steve, our hero, our legend, our wildlife warrior," read another. "I thought you were immortal. How I wish that was true," said a third.

The park opened Tuesday because it was what Irwin would have wanted, said Gail Gipp, an animal health employee.

Irwin was propelled to global fame after his TV shows, in which he regularly wrestled with crocodiles and went face-to-face with poisonous snakes and other wild animals, were shown around world on the Discovery Channel.

The network announced plans for a marathon screening of Irwin's work and a wildlife fund in his name.

"Rarely has the world embraced an animal enthusiast and conservationist as they did Steve Irwin," Discovery Networks International President Dawn McCall said in a statement.

Experts differed on the number of human deaths caused by stingrays - anywhere from 3 to 17 - though they agreed that they were extremely rare.

© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[laurarox]

I'm devestated. As a lover of all animals, I revered his ability to build that bridge of understanding between humans and wildlife. We don't have that many conservationists/animal activists to adjulate. He taught kids to RESPECT all living things.

Love you Steve!

[wondergirl9847]

Originally Posted by goldustsongbird

Well, I'm not saying it was deserved or that he 'had it coming', but he did take a lot of chances with his work.

I'm not sure why everyone is saying "This is so sad, but..." because firemen, policemen, crab fishermen, etc. have very dangerous jobs as well. Do we say things like "I'm sorry he died, but he WAS a fireman, policeman, insert dangerous job here."? Nope.

Yes, he chose to get close to dangerous animals because like firemen, policemen, etc...he LOVED his job.

He was so full of joy and life when you'd see him on TV. They just played his interview from a couple of years ago on my local morning radio show and the last thing they played him saying was that he was meant to preserve these animals...that's why he was put here.

My heart goes out to Terri, Bindi and lil' Bob.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by wondergirl9847

I'm not sure why everyone is saying "This is so sad, but..." because firemen, policemen, crab fishermen, etc. have very dangerous jobs as well. Do we say things like "I'm sorry he died, but he WAS a fireman, policeman, insert dangerous job here."? Nope.

Yes, he chose to get close to dangerous animals because like firemen, policemen, etc...he LOVED his job.

He was so full of joy and life when you'd see him on TV. They just played his interview from a couple of years ago on my local morning radio show and the last thing they played him saying was that he was meant to preserve these animals...that's why he was put here.

My heart goes out to Terri, Bindi and lil' Bob.

I just think people mean that they are not surprised that he died. I don't think anyone means that he deserved it for being reckless. At least I hope that's not what they mean.

It is such a freak thing to have happened. He is one of 3 - 17 people to have ever been killed by a stingray, according to the article Brian posted above. That's just insane. I have been on a cruise where we were swimming with stingrays and there was no thought that they might be dangerous and no warning either.

Personally I did wish Irwin would take fewer risks being a father. It sounds though like he did take safety more seriously than was apparent on television and that this was just one of those things. The spiritual part of me thinks that there must be a reason for this and it will be for the greater good, eventually.

My heart goes out to his family.

[skcin]

For some reason, this news did shock me. Very sad. I feel for his wife & their kids.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by skcin

I fell for his wife & their kids.

Geez, Paula - the woman just lost her husband...wait a few weeks before professing your love

Just kidding -- I too feel very bad for his wife and kids - he and his wife seemed like such a great couple - both all "wild-lifey" and he just adored those kids....the whole thing is absolutely heartbreaking

And Christy - I like your analogy and I agree.