Steve Irwin

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I always felt the same way, that a croc would kill him but a little stingray? They look so harmless on TV.

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Jesus, this is so sad.

From what I read, ray's are docile, but a big male was spooked by the camera. The barb on the bottom of a stingray's tail is rarely fatal, it hit his heart making it a freak accident. They said if it hit anywhere else, he just would be in a lot of pain.



What luck. Someone who did things for the planet and it's inhabitants dies and Star Jones and Pete Dougherty still walks around. It just sucks.

Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe, who became friends with the Crocodile Hunter after they met four years ago, was extremely upset and "unable to think about anything else" after learning of Irwin's death.

"He was a great friend of mine. I loved him and I'll be there for his family," Crowe said from the US.

Crowe described Irwin's passing as "a tragedy with a far reaching impact".

"He was the Australian that we all aspire to be," he said.

"He held an absolute belief about caring for the riches of our country."

Crowe said Irwin remained "the ultimate wildlife warrior".

"He touched my heart, I believed in him and I'll miss him," he said.


Hugh Jackman said;

"Today we mourn the loss of a great Australian. His enthusiasm, humour, passion and optimism was a beacon throughout the world," he said.

"He is a great example of how much one individual can do to make our planet a better place.



"He was an inspiration. Totally devoid of pretension. He was the real deal. What you saw is what you got.

"His passion and love of life, family and nature was boundless. He was a colossus and will be sorely missed.

"My condolences and thoughts are with his family."

Another Collision Course co-star Magda Szubanski said she was "grief-stricken".

"I don't know if people realise what a truly, truly great guy Steve was. Steve had such tremendous life-force, I kind of thought he was invincible.

"I've never known anyone who was so alive and so full of love for life and his family. One of the most generous people you would ever hope to know. I am devastated for Terri and the family."

Getaway presenter Catriona Rowntree said Irwin had a huge effect on Australian tourism.

"He was such a dynamic force on so many different levels. What he did for travel, for the environment, for animal welfare is absolutely astounding.

[MrsOldManBalls]

I always figured a big Croc would kill him, though. Either that, or a really poisonous snake. With all the dangerous beasties he's handled, it's almost anticlimactic that he went so quickly and bloodlessly.

Yeah, I was expecting that it would have been a more grusome ending.

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zambonigirl said:

I always figured a big Croc would kill him, though. Either that, or a really poisonous snake. With all the dangerous beasties he's handled, it's almost anticlimactic that he went so quickly and bloodlessly.

This is going to sound looney to some, but he was a champion for animals and the enviroment, I think of it as a gift from the animal world to him, to die like this. A croc killing him would be terrifying and painful. This way was gentle and quick. We all have to die someday, so this his time, it was by an animal and it was swift. Not horrific like a croc, and not some dottering old man wasting away in a bed.

Kind of like nature saying thanks to a favorite son.

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"Kind of like nature saying thanks to a favorite son."

Maybe if nature had waited until his family was grown... It's so sad for his children and his wife. I hope he had good insurance.

[magazinewhore]

I like that idea, whitefalcon. And, he died doing what he loved. It's better than getting hit by a bus or cancer. Yes, we all wish he has lived longer, but it is sort of a poetic death, if that's possible. I'm sure his family doesn't see it that way of course.

[boontown]

RIP Steve Irwin. IT's a sad day for your family, loved ones and your fans.

[eveschmeve]

I'm shocked. I honestly never thought he would die from an animal, because it would be too fitting, you know?

I just keeping thinking of Terri and the kids- it was obvious that they all loved each other very, very much, and that Steve would have done anything for them. I once met someone who worked with him on a segment for the Olympics, and they said he was one of the most genuine and likable people he had ever met.

RIP Steve.

[prada]

This is so, so sad. R.I.P.

[firstaid]

The barb ( which is like a bayonette ) hit him directly into the heart , shredding it and administering it's poison. He was dead instantly .

Wow that's horrible!!! what a strange freak accident!!!

I did love his enthusiasm for the animals especially crocodiles and snakes, but the many times when I would watch his show, some of his hands on methods would border on harassing the animals.

For instance, he wouldn't say "look at the alligator's teeth" and point at them. Instead,he would pry open some poor alligator's jaws and then stick his hand there and feel them and describe the teeth "as very sharp".

He did rub me the wrong way, when he was feeding one of the alligators while he was holding his baby daughter. Definitely a WTF moment.I am sure he has cheated death many times with his handling of alligators and other dangerous animals.

That said, I do love environmentalists and appreciate their efforts to bring attention to conservation and saving endangered species. RIP Steve Irwin