Steve Iriwn (aka The Crocodile Hunter) died today...

[physiognomy]

Here is a link to the local news breaking the story...

Steve Irwin dead... (click link)

As much as I was often embarrassed by his accentuated stereotypical (& often dangerous) behaviour it is sad that he died. I especially feel sorry for his two young kids.

Peter

 

[pesphoto]

ouch! that's not good

 

[MoTR]

Wow.
Thats a hit.
He seemed like a genuinely nice guy.

My thoughts are with his family and wife.

One of the few guys to push for a lot of different conservation movments on this planet.

Hell be missed by a lot.

Peace to you Steve wherever you are.
RIP

 

[ghost]

hopefully, this is a case of "reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated". otherwise, that kinda sucks.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

It is indeed sad. I'm not Australian, but cringed me-self when I hehd 'm tak, but he was himself. I was impressed by his resilience and his not giving a murid's *ss what people said about him, in general. B*lls, he had.

That also makes me more anxious when I remember I swam right next to a stingray, and some guy wanted to go and pet it; I asked people on the boat if they were dangerous; nobody could tell me. Well, now I know.

 

[Krasnaya_Zvezda]

Strewth! Damned shame. He was a fair dinkum cobber, and I'm putting one down in his memory. Really feel bad for his little kids.

 

[Krasnaya_Zvezda]

That also makes me more anxious when I remember I swam right next to a stingray, and some guy wanted to go and pet it; I asked people on the boat if they were dangerous; nobody could tell me. Well, now I know.

Not trying to be funny here, G, but something called STINGray doesn't sound like a cuddly pet.

 

[Silva Lining]

Irwin was great,

I'm shocked to hear this news. Strange that he would be killed by a Stingray, considering that he spent much of his time with far more dangerous animals.

He was a passionate guy who went after what he believed in.

 

[physiognomy]

It is indeed sad. I'm not Australian, but cringed me-self when I hehd 'm tak, but he was himself. I was impressed by his resilience and his not giving a murid's *ss what people said about him, in general. B*lls, he had.

I agree... I am guilty of disliking the bloke's TV persona, but I never once doubted that his passion was not honestly there. It does take a lot of guts to be who you are in this world & I am sorry that he lost his life doing it.

That also makes me more anxious when I remember I swam right next to a stingray, and some guy wanted to go and pet it; I asked people on the boat if they were dangerous; nobody could tell me. Well, now I know.

I have just come from North Queensland & was swimming/snorkelling a couple of weeks ago at a beach on the mainland just north of where his attack happened... I saw at least two biggish stingrays in the shallows & while I was scared/startled they swam quickly away after I disturbed them. I feel that while their sting is deadly they would not be eager to attack you unless they felt threatened or pursued without any easy escape.

Peter

 

[Silva Lining]

It would appear that the Stingray barb pierced Irwin's heart. Which has got to be incredibly unlucky.

 

[sf]

Thanks, Steve.

Thanks, Steve.

A stingray is an incredibly lethal creature. The speed and accuracy with which it uses its barb is pretty amazing.

Steve Irwin was one of the more sincere personalities ever to hit the TV screen - and judging by his guts and gusto in that context, probably one of the most sincere people around. He was a very bright example of the better side of human nature in many respects, and he will surely be missed by millions.

What a way to go, though. Pierced through the heart by a stingray. Hard to die in a more exotic manner. At least he got to go doing what he loved.

 

[telenous]

What a shame. He was so very affable, with a contageous kind of enthusiasm. I believe stingrays are fairly 'shy' animals and attacks on humans are a great rarity. But then Steve Irwin was a rare person too.

 

[jmilkins]

Steve Irwin R.I.P. True Blue.

But I can't imagine him being still anywhere. A larger than life character, part fair dinkum conservationist, part quirky showman, part adrenaline junkie. Sometimes made his fellow Australians worry that the rest of the world thought we were all like that. But maybe that wouldn't have been half bad....

Serious injuries due to stingray barbs are not unknown. Mostly to the lower legs when a swimmer has inadvertantly stepped on the camoflaged ray. The barbs can go straight through muscle and bone. 2 other deaths due to the heart being pireced that I've read about - 1933 and 1945.

 

[rover]

I read the news story before signing on here. Another wow. He was passionate and went out doing what he loved. Perhaps fitting and an honor to his work.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

R.I.P. Steve Irwin

R.I.P. Steve Irwin

So very sad. The world has lost another unique character.

My sister and ex-brother-in-law have a video made when they
went swimming with stingrays in the Cayman Islands years ago.
The creatures are beautiful, and swim so gracefully.
They look quite harmless...

-Chris-

 

[FrankS]

Pierced through the heart by a stingray!

To borrow an (altered) phrase from the movie crocodile hunter: You call than an exit? This is an exit!

 

[merlin]

Yes, Mr Irwin certainly had many good points, and they have been expressed, and I feel for his family and friends, but when you tease the hell out of innocent creatures for a living, something is going to happen sooner or later, and did.

 

[didotcicero]

It's bizarre, incredible dramatic and unbelievable...

 

[Bill58]

You risk death often and finally your number is up--but a real freak accident. Now the Aussies have one famous guy left, Mel Gibson, and he's definitely on the outs in Hollywood.

 

[dostacos]

You risk death often and finally your number is up--but a real freak accident. Now the Aussies have one famous guy left, Mel Gibson, and he's definitely on the outs in Hollywood.

and he does not count since he was born in the good old USofA