Steve Irwin....Dead Options

[Agent Griff]

I am very sad to say but, today, one of the greatest and bravest Australians ever to live...has perished.

Steve Irwin, the famed creator of the Crocodile Hunter documentaries on Animal Planet, has passed on today after being stung by a sting-ray in the chest. He left behind a wife and two children.

May he rest in piece...

Link:http: //www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20349534-952,00.html

This post has been edited by Agent Griff: Sep 4 2006, 11:12 AM

[Ibis]

That's terrible ... that sounds like an awful way to die. How old was he, I'm wondering?

[jack cloudy]

It doesn't come as a surprise to me. (Just watch the show, he didn't exactly stay at the safe side of things.)
Still, it's a sad thing to hear. At least he probably died the way he wanted it, in the wild and not in a hospital.

[stargelman]

Crikey, look at that stingray, isn't she a b.... *zong*

What a way to go. According to the local newspaper website, this happened during the filming for a underwater docu. He probably chased that stingray and tried to grab it to hold it into the camera. I suppose something like this had to happen sooner or later.

[Ibis]

I think starge is right. He doesn't seem the kind of guy who'd want to just die in his sleep ...

[ThePerson98]

He was a great man. I've known the guy since I was little, and you sorta grow up around him, if you know what I mean. And his shows was one of the greatest to watch. It's eerie to now think that the show will just sort of, go away. He died doing what he loved. And was a loved man to many, many people.

[stargelman]

True that.

Someone said on TESF how this was such a horrible way to die. I must say I disagree. Considering his line of work, I think being shot right in the heart by a stingray barb -resulting in instant death- was probably the best way for him to go. Better than anything involving crocodiles or extremely poisonous snakes.

[milanius]

Well, may his fearless, borderline-psycho spirit rest in peace now. I'll miss that nut.

[Kayla]

He was 44.

I remember growing up watching him... He was so cool to me when I was little. But, he died doing what he loved. Too bad it was so early.

[1234king]

No other aussie could make a better documentary, may his sould R.I.P

[The Metal Mallet]

I too, enjoyed the shows when I was younger. I'll miss those crazy antics of his. His personality was infectious.

My condolences goes to the family.

[Kiln]

I figured this sort of thing would happen sooner or later with the crazy way the guy lived...I just never figured it'd be a sting ray...

I'll miss watching him, I always found his show entertaining.

[Zarrexaij]

I still can't believe he's dead.

He was my childhood hero.

At least his death was quick, and he died doing something he loved.

I have best wishes for his family. He died rather young. Heck, I thought he was at least ten years older than 44...

For being in the face of constant danger, he had a remarkable sense of humor.

[Ibis]

Apparently the stingray was a very large one and was mistaken during the film shooting as a manta ray, which are huge majestic creatures that we see here in Florida as diamond shaped shadows flying in and out of rivers and bays on the changing of the tides. And manta rays people can grab ahold of and take an exhilerting ride on ... so apparently they were going to film Steve riding the ray. Unfortunately, he must have spooked the sting ray to provocation!

Sea World came on the evening news yesterday and told everbone that their stingray barbs are all trimmed back on a regular basis so that people can commune with and pet the rays while swimming with them I say, quit disarming the beautiful creatures of their natural defenses and return them to Mother Ocean, their home.

[Khajiit Overlord Rainer]

Rainer weeps for the fallen

[Zarrexaij]

At school, people kept on saying "OMG DID U HEAR STEVE IRWIN IS DED?"

No, I slept all day yesterday.

Even worse, a lot of people said he deserved it! I guess cops, soldiers, firefighters, and other people who have very dangerous jobs deserve to die, too...

Hypocrites.

[Agent Griff]

I was watching some programs about him on Animal Planet yesterday, they were all in his memory. The most touching of them was titled "The Crocodile Hunter: Steve's Story" and it was basically Steve Irwin's life story, narrated by Steve, Terri, and assisted by comments made by Steve's parents at times.

It tells everything, from when Steve was a child up until he met Terri and beyond. It shows how he videotaped when he captured rogue crocodiles in his 20's. He did most of those captures by himself, it was really impresive. Of course, his sense of humour always radiated out of the TV and touched everyone outside. For example, when he captured one of the oldest crocs at Australia Zoo, Agro, he took the croc to his camp, preparing to put him into a specially designed croc-box. He always made little comments, for example when the crocodile was lying on the ground with a big net on it, the croc was thrashing around. Steve asked in a humorous way "He seems angry, wonder why?"

The most touching moment though, for me, was when his daughter, Bindi, was born and he got it all on tape. I confess, I burst into tears when I saw how happy and proud he was when he held his daughter into his arms for the first time. He loved his daughter so much, he was so happy, I just couldn't hold on and burst into tears knowing that his daughter is fatherless now.

Ironically, Terri said as she was holding Bindi that "In a few years you'll be running a zoo." Bindi starting crying after Terri said this. Terri then said "I know, I'd be upset too." This man's life story is just amazing. I am really sorry he is gone.

He was a great man in life, and he is a legend in death.

[Black Hand]

It's Sad, but not surprising.

[Ibis]

Yes - not surprising. But something in us wants these superadventurous people among us to live to ripe old ages ... to beat the system for us, so to speak. Well, I think it is nice how his people are saying he would not like anyone to get the wrong idea about stingrays, that they are animals that keep to themselves, bottom feeders and use their barbs only in selfdefense. Steve was afterall a great wildlife educator.

[ThePerson98]

He must of been one of the greatest people to know..When I was little I wanted to be just like him. There aren't many..if not that then nobody, people like him in the world. I keep nearly crying from reading this. How great of a father he was to his children. Too many people only know him for his show..Half the kids at school just said "I really didn't watch his show". Oh-hoh boy, he did a LOT more than just that little show. He got the show from what he already did.
Heh, I remember hearing that he would have his camera crew go like anywhere he went. If you noticed how many videos you would watch of him just in his car, and then the camera starts rolling and he hops out of the car and picks some snake up

So many memories.."HERE WE GO AGAIN ADVENTURING! WHERE THE WILD WILD WILD CREATURES HANG! Steve: GORGEOUS GORGEOUS"..And I can only remember the tune from there. When I would get up every morning when I was a little six year old, and watch croc hunter till school started. And the documentaries, there was one where his family was on vacation, and it was one of the happiest looking families..Yes I do know every family has conflicts here and there. But Steve must of been one of the easiest guys to live with.
Still hard to believe that he is gone though..It was just so fast.