Crikey ! - Steve Irwin Dead ?

[lfcrule1972]

From: http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,701...9,00.html?f=rss

 

 

 

Wildlife Maverick Is Killed

Updated: 05:59, Monday September 04, 2006

 

 

 

 

World-famous Australian naturalist Steve Irwin has reportedly died in a marine accident.

 

The danger-loving wildlife enthusiast is said to have been killed by a barb from a stingray that pierced his chest.

 

His daredevil antics, which saw him get face-to-face with deadly creatures such as crocodiles and poisonous snakes on camera, won him a global following.

 

He is said to have been filming an underwater documentary off Port Douglas when the accident occurred.

 

However, Australian emergency officials could not immediately confirm the reports.

[lfcrule1972]

From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5311298.stm '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.

 

[dbminter]

Beat me to it. I guess when you're half a world's difference in time away, that happens.

 

 

I was going to post on the same thing and how ironic it was. "Ain't she a beaut?! Ow! She stung me... oy... don't feel so well-"

 

 

After all those years, survived handling crocodiles and all other kinds of deadly and poisonous critters with his hands, he's killed while underwater. I would guess that was normally not his environment. i.e. did he do a lot of underwater filming before?

[dbminter]

What is it about the board software and the stupid ellipses?

 

 

Okay, so, I can have TWO sets of ... in a post, but THREE says I don't have permission to edit index.php?!

[lfcrule1972]

Nah I think he was more a specialist in land based deadly animals db.

[dbminter]

Yeah, which was my point on why it was ironic he was killed by a stingray while filming underwater.

[lfcrule1972]

I would have bet ?20 that a croc or snake got him too !

[Kenadjian]

Very sad, with 2 young children and all, he was an icon, I never really agread with some of the things he did, he really went overboard for the cameras, I allways thought that a croc would get him sooner or later but a stingray never entered my mind, you really have to be stiff for that to happen, I don't think I ever recall anyone bieng killed by a stingray, he will be missed.

[Grain]

I remember the very first time I saw him on the telly, he was chasing some rat up and down tree's. Pissed myself laughing at this crazy bastard getting all cut up and scratched all for some rat, he was unique, sorry to see it end this way.

[jack]

I was never a fan to be honest, I have kept a few snakes and lizards in the past and I never liked the way he handled them or turned them into some kind of circus act. But saying that it is a terrible shame as he had done a lot of very good work raising awareness of the plight of some of the less cuddly animals that are hunted near to extinction at times. Seems like he just forgot the golden rule that any wild animal, whatever species, size, or shape is still a wild animal and will defend itself in any way it can if aggrevated and annoyed in the way Irwin seemed to do at times. Hopefully all the good work he has done can be carried on by the rest of his team without the need to dangle small children over crocodile cages.

[blutach]

Real sad that he will miss his beloved Aussies caning the poms to extinction in the upcoming Ashes series.

 

Regards

[bootsector]

I was a big fan of this guy!

 

I got very surprised when I opened the news this morning and saw him on the front page.

 

It was hard to believe... It was easy to imagine him as a "immortal" guy when you saw him on TV.

 

Very sad history

[Pain_Man]

Accidental duplicate.

Edited September 5, 2006 by Pain_Man

[Pain_Man]

Nah I think he was more a specialist in land based deadly animals db.

 

Queensland, according to the state's premiere, is going to give him a state funeral.

 

No funeral plans were announced but [Queensland] state Premier Peter Beattie said Irwin would be afforded a state funeral if his family agreed.

 

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2006/09/05/i...=20060905110000

 

Yeah. According to an AP story, his manager said that he and Steve had always said that if [steve] were to be killed, it would almost certainly be underwater.

 

On land he could move and maneuver his way out of danger (or, fuck it, just run!).

 

Water's, what, 800 times denser than air?

 

Besides, even on land, you can't avoid what you don't see.

 

It just bad goddamned luck, swimming over the stingray and ZAP!

 

He was a good guy.

 

Why is it never someone who's death has absolutely no consequences, say, Ben Affleck?

Edited September 5, 2006 by Pain_Man

[Pain_Man]

Very sad, with 2 young children and all, he was an icon, I never really agread with some of the things he did, he really went overboard for the cameras, I allways thought that a croc would get him sooner or later but a stingray never entered my mind, you really have to be stiff for that to happen, I don't think I ever recall anyone bieng killed by a stingray, he will be missed.

 

 

NY Times story said between 3 & 17 people a year are killed by stingrays. You're waaaaay more likely to win the lottery than buy it from a stingray.

 

The worst of bad luck.

 

He will be missed.

 

He's another of your country's great contributions to the world.

 

Looking at him, it's no wonder Aussies make such great soldiers.

[Pain_Man]

He was credited with helping to convince the Australian federal gov't not to legalize croc hunting for rich hunters (mostly foreign tourists).

 

Plus he was damned fun to watch.

 

He visited my home town (San Diego, CA) once. It was a strange sight to see the Crocodile Hunter saving a rattlesnake that had fallen into a small aqueduct.

 

He showboated at times, but he also saved a lot of animals--especially crocs that would have most certainly been shot if he hadn't relocated them.

 

The thing with his son & feeding the croc--and, truthfully, looking at the video, the kid didn't appear to be in danger, imo and Austrailian CPS--was a momentary lapse in judgement, but what parent hasn't screwed up?

 

I pulled the car away from the curb once without having strapped the kid into her carseat. I only noticed when she'd climbed out of the thing. Natch, I had to pull over and properly restrain her. If a cop had seen it, it would have cost me $400 American and I would have had CPS* up my ass over it.

 

As I'm typing this, Animal Planet is running a tribute to him.

 

"My...reason for being put on this planet is saving wildlife. Thank you for coming with me."

--Steve Irwin

 

I keep thinking about his kids. His wife, not to diminsh her grief, but she's young and will probably remarry (as I'm sure he want her to be happy). But kids can't replace a father.

 

 

 

 

*CPS=Child Protective Services

 

I was never a fan to be honest, I have kept a few snakes and lizards in the past and I never liked the way he handled them or turned them into some kind of circus act. But saying that it is a terrible shame as he had done a lot of very good work raising awareness of the plight of some of the less cuddly animals that are hunted near to extinction at times. Seems like he just forgot the golden rule that any wild animal, whatever species, size, or shape is still a wild animal and will defend itself in any way it can if aggrevated and annoyed in the way Irwin seemed to do at times. Hopefully all the good work he has done can be carried on by the rest of his team without the need to dangle small children over crocodile cages.

Edited September 5, 2006 by Pain_Man

[Pain_Man]

@blu

 

Can you, ah, translate that into Yank?

 

Real sad that he will miss his beloved Aussies caning the poms to extinction in the upcoming Ashes series.

 

Regards

[bootsector]

@blu

 

Can you, ah, translate that into Yank?

 

Real sad that he will miss his beloved Aussies caning the poms to extinction in the upcoming Ashes series.

 

Regards

 

 

LOL! I thought I didn't get that as well because my broken english

[cornholio7]

its a reference to the aussies beating the english in the upcoming 'ashes' cricket tournament

[Pain_Man]

Thanks, corny.

 

As soon as I shut down the laptop, I realized what it probably meant (i.e. cricket).

 

Every hour on the hour Animal Planet is running tributes to him.

 

On the Discovery Channel website, they say they're working on a tribute.

 

its a reference to the aussies beating the english in the upcoming 'ashes' cricket tournament

[Jill]

The thing with his son & feeding the croc--and, truthfully, looking at the video, the kid didn't appear to be in danger, imo and Austrailian CPS--was a momentary lapse in judgement

*CPS=Child Protective Services

 

From the moment he stepped into the crocodile enclosure his son was in danger even if he said he was in control you can never foresee the unexpected, I bet he thought he knew what he was doing with the stingray

[Pain_Man]

From the moment he stepped into the crocodile enclosure his son was in danger even if he said he was in control you can never foresee the unexpected, I bet he thought he knew what he was doing with the stingray

 

 

He never saw the stingray. He swam over and in a millions to one shot, it struck him in the chest.

 

The moment I put my child in the car and pulled away from the curb into traffic she was in far more danger than Steve's son was from that croc.

 

50,000 a year die in car accidents a year in the US alone. The number of peole killed by crocs is a fraction of that worldwide.

 

I'm not saying it was the brightest thing he ever did, but it shouldn't be blown out of proportion. The Aussie authorities didn't find a problem with it.

 

He also stopped greeting visitors entering his zoo because he saw a 2 1/2 yr old girl knocked to the ground and hurt by an idiot fan rushing to meet him.

[chewy]

He never saw the stingray. He swam over and in a millions to one shot, it struck him in the chest.

 

I find that hard to believe, not sure i would believe eye witness accounts either, but camera footage maybe.

 

Rays usually mind their own business

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stingray

[dbminter]

I would like to see the footage that they say he was caught, the entire time, on camera, from attack to pulling out the barb, until he died. I don't want to appear or morbid, but, if his wife chooses to release the footage and stations choose to show it, I am curious as to the events that transpired. Because, even if we do see it, there may simply be no answer. Freak accidents just happen. Normally docile things can get pissed for no reason. Things can get afraid for no reason, too. It may have been an accident, too. That Irwin misinterpreted the action and, as a result, caused it to attack while trying to defend from what he thought was an attack.

 

 

In the end, I think there can never be an answer because there's no way we can know what was in Irwin's mind or in the "thinking" of the ray in that instant, either.

[bootsector]

Here is the species who caused the tragedy:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dasyatis_brevicaudata

 

AKA "Bull Ray" or "Short-tail stingray":

 

"It frequently raises its tail with barb in a scorpion-like fashion when approached. Though it can inflict severe wounds, it is considered more inquisitive than aggressive."

 

Maybe that one was in bad mood that day