Steve Irwin

**wingstoo** · 04-09-2006, 06:46

Steve has been killed making a wildlife programme, apparently stung by a Stingray....

Not exactly Bushcraft, but...

Thoughts to family...

LS

http://news.google.com/news?q=steve+...=news&ct=title

**Tony** · 04-09-2006, 07:23

That's really sad, he was one of those larger than life blokes that helped put a smile on the face of a lot of people. I'll miss him.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/5311298.stm

**redflex** · 04-09-2006, 07:34

He is one guy who could really inspire and never be replaced.

He did more in his life than most could dream of it will not be the same with him gone.

heart goes to his family.

**Lithril** · 04-09-2006, 07:41

News this morning said the sting rays barb pierced his chest.

Sad day indeed.

**falling rain** · 04-09-2006, 08:18

What a massive shame and sad thing. He was a completely original character and great fun to watch.
I have to say though in the nicest possible way, it was only a matter of time really. He did antagonise dangerous wild animals a bit too much sometimes in my opinion, and get way too close. His well known catch phrase 'it's getting a little cranky' refering to a particular animal he was looking at was because Steve was making the animal so. Don't get me wrong I think he was a great bloke, and he's done massive amounts for conservation which is highly admirable but he did push animals a little too far sometimes. They should be observed from a distance and allowed to get on with their business without interferance. Anyway a truly sad piece of news and I'll say a prayer for his young family at their loss.

**ArkAngel** · 04-09-2006, 08:27

Very sad news,

I was only watching one of his programmes yesterday.

His love and understanding of the animals he fought so hard to save was second to none.

He will be sadly missed

**Buckshot** · 04-09-2006, 08:32

A great shame.
I went to an RM lecture a couple of years ago and Ray was asked what he thought of Steve.
He said he's turned alot of people to nature and that can only be a good thing.

I think that's a very good way of putting it. A larger than life character that had a great love and belief for what he did - he was a lucky man and will be missed.
It's always sad when a life is taken early, especially when young children are left behind.

Mark

**Marts** · 04-09-2006, 08:36

Very sad news. My thoughts go out to his young family

**Wayland** · 04-09-2006, 08:56

It's always a tragedy when one of the worlds characters pass away but I cannot help wondering how close you need to be for a stingray to sting you in the heart?

**jdlenton** · 04-09-2006, 08:57

very sad news
he was a dedicated naturalist and father he made some ace TV the world has lost another amazing human being.

my thoughts go out to his wife and children

**scruff** · 04-09-2006, 10:21

I too was sad to hear this news this morning and my thoughts are with his wife and child who were not with him at the time.

There was a phone interview with Nigel "Marvelous" Marven this morning on breakfast TV, who worked in a similar field to Steve.

He stated that the 'sting' form a sting ray is not that potent and would probably not fell a healthy, full grown adult, but that the barb of the ray can be as long as a kitchen knife. Some reports claim that Steve was hit in the chest by the barb and that it may have pierced his heart.

It was also noted that sting rays are also a very skittish creature and would normally scuttle away from danger or a perceived threat before resorting to 'attacking'. It would be interesting to find out more about the circumstances of this attack.

IIRC Mr Marven said up until now there has only been one recorded death by sting ray and that was in the 1940's.

**andyn** · 04-09-2006, 10:31

All sounds like a very freak incident with a very unfortunate outcome.

**Lurch** · 04-09-2006, 12:25

What a shame, a real character.
Looks like his luck finally ran out in the strangest of ways, I always thought it would be a croc that would do for him.

Ed · 04-09-2006, 12:27

A sad day indeed.... our thoughts are with his family and friends ......

Ed

**Stuart1983** · 04-09-2006, 12:29

I dont care what anyone says, Steve Erwin was a great bloke and its hard to believe this has happened, he had one of the last 'decent' programs i believe left on tv and will be a great loss, he had already used his 9 lives i guess but this is such a shame.

**Spikey DaPikey** · 04-09-2006, 13:17

He was as mad as a box of frogs !!

Great tv, and did so much for animal awareness etc

RIP mate.

**Jack** · 04-09-2006, 13:19

I too heard news as well first thing this morning.

It is always a sad day when someone dies. Most days go by when we hear of death somewhere....Iraq and Afghanistan to name a few.

I must buck the trend here and say that I am not surprised at all at SE has been killed, surely this was only a matter time, wasn't it? The news has made a great play on how he has left behind a young family and how sad it is for them. Well of course it is but this was his own selfish doing wasn't it? He had a high risk occupation and new it and he was also fully aware of the fact that he had a young family but that didn't stop him.

You can't have both and these people always have to push the boundaries - which in his chosen field, wasn't a clever thing to do..................

**falling rain** · 04-09-2006, 13:45

Originally Posted by Jack

I too heard news as well first thing this morning.

It is always a sad day when someone dies. Most days go by when we hear of death somewhere....Iraq and Afghanistan to name a few.

I must buck the trend here and say that I am not surprised at all at SE has been killed, surely this was only a matter time, wasn't it? The news has made a great play on how he has left behind a young family and how sad it is for them. Well of course it is but this was his own selfish doing wasn't it? He had a high risk occupation and new it and he was also fully aware of the fact that he had a young family but that didn't stop him.

You can't have both and these people always have to push the boundaries - which in his chosen field, wasn't a clever thing to do..................

I'd say 'selfish' is the wrong word to use here Jack. He was a fantastic character and did an awful lot for conservation. As I've said the guy did 'push it' a little sometimes with extremely potentially dangerous animals. (here's Steve handling an Inland Taipan which comes in at No 1 in the most venomous snakes chart picture number 8) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/5311848.stm Lots of people in dangerous proffesions have young families, but is a firefighter or trawlerman etc etc 'selfish'? It was his job and his family all knew it. 'Selfish' isn't a suitable word for the guy. He was evidently a very caring person to go to lenths he did for the wildlife on our planet.................just maybe he shouldn't have tried to interact quite so closely with them................but who's perfect

**Brian** · 04-09-2006, 13:50

Sad to hear of his untimely death

Brian

**jdlenton** · 04-09-2006, 13:54

fair point jack and i'm sorry but i'm going to have to disagee with you and i dont want this thread to deteriorate in to a debate on dangerous ocupation verses family life but if it wasn't people like SE, Ranolph Fines, Chris Bonnington, Ayrton Senna, Alison Hargreaves, Michael Park, Bruce Parry and many others who choose to do dangerous life threatening/taking things some with families some without where would humanity be and who would people like myself who have a family and gave up doing those things look to for inspiration and motivation
its true that his family will pay a price for his death but he worked very closely with his wife and she new the risks he was taking and continued to accept this. Selfish I'm not sure a man dedicated to what he saw as his life's work who in doing what he loved to do died doing it.

what ever its a shame

**Wayne** · 04-09-2006, 14:10

I tend to agree with JD. Its a shame that Steve Irwin isn't quite cold and people are already sharpening their knives. No disrespect to Jack.

People often face choices about their lives direction and choose to alter that direction when they have a family. I have many friends that stopped chasing summits in the greater ranges when they had responsibilities. I think Steve felt he had a greater responsibility to the wildlife around him. He was also a top class self publicist like Alision Hargreaves and fully dependant on their dangerous jobs to pay the mortage.

I wonder how much the TV work paid for his wildlife park and conservation efforts.

Although his methods where often extreme he lived a life consistant with his beliefs.

**b1k3rwaif** · 04-09-2006, 14:59

SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- Steve Irwin, the TV presenter known as the "Crocodile Hunter," has died after being stung by a stingray in a marine accident off Australia's north coast.

Media reports say Irwin was diving in waters off Port Douglas, north of Cairns, when the incident happened on Monday morning.

Irwin, 44 was killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest, according to Cairns police sources. Irwin was filming an underwater documentary at the time.

Ambulance officers confirmed they attended a reef fatality Monday morning off Port Douglas, according to Australian media. (Watch scenes of Irwin, known for his his enthusiasm, support for conservation -- 2:49)

Queensland Police Services also confirmed Irwin's death and said his family had been notified. Irwin was director of the Australian Zoo in Queensland.

He is survived by his American-born wife Terri and their two children, Bindi Sue, born 1998, and Robert (Bob), born December 2003.

Irwin became a popular figure on Australian and international television through Irwin's close handling of wildlife, most notably the capture and relocation of crocodiles.

Irwin's enthusiastic approach to nature conservation and the environment won him a global following. He was known for his exuberance and use of the catch phrase "Crikey!"

But his image suffered a setback in January 2004 when he held his then 1-month-old baby Bob while feeding a crocodile at his Australian zoo. (Full story)

In a statement released to Australian media, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer expressed his sorrow and said that he was fond of Irwin and was very appreciative of all the work he had done in promoting Australia overseas.

In 2003, Irwin spoke to the Australian Broadcasting Corp.'s Australian Story television program about how he was perceived in his home country.

"When I see what's happened all over the world, they're looking at me as this very popular, wildlife warrior Australian bloke," he said, the ABC reported.

"And yet back here in my own country, some people find me a little bit embarrassing. "You know, there's this... they kind of cringe, you know, 'cause I'm coming out with 'Crikey' and 'Look at this beauty.'"

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapc...win/index.html

**Burnt Ash** · 04-09-2006, 15:37

Originally Posted by falling rain

I'd say 'selfish' is the wrong word to use here Jack. He was a fantastic character and did an awful lot for conservation. As I've said the guy did 'push it' a little sometimes with extremely potentially dangerous animals. (here's Steve handling an Inland Taipan which comes in at No 1 in the most venomous snakes chart picture number 8) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/5311848.stm Lots of people in dangerous proffesions have young families, but is a firefighter or trawlerman etc etc 'selfish'? It was his job and his family all knew it. 'Selfish' isn't a suitable word for the guy. He was evidently a very caring person to go to lenths he did for the wildlife on our planet.................just maybe he shouldn't have tried to interact quite so closely with them................but who's perfect

Except in respect of his young family I don't think 'selfish' is quite the word I'd have chosen, either. But Steve Irwin cannot be compared to the likes of firemen, soldiers, miners, lifeboatmen, etc., etc. These people generally do their level best to minimise the risks involved in their inherently dangerous occupations, but who will still come a cropper from time-to-time. Mr Irwin flagrantly courted danger and sailed close to the wind in order to boost audience figures. I can't have been the only person on the planet to have said (many times) that one day he'd take just one risk too many. It gives me no satisfaction whatsoever to have been proved right.

Burnt Ash

**CLEM** · 04-09-2006, 15:57

Thats a damn shame,I liked watching his shows,he was very entertaining.I guess your luck can only hold for so long.RIP.

**Jack** · 04-09-2006, 16:54

None taken guys.

Sometimes I just like to question my own thoughts as I do everyone else's and I like to lay my thoughts out as sometimes I think we as a nation get to involved in other peoples lives.

We all have our hero's, it is just that not many become TV stars.........

**jdlenton** · 04-09-2006, 16:56

Originally Posted by Jack

None taken guys.

Sometimes I just like to question my own thoughts as I do everyone else's and I like to lay my thoughts out as sometimes I think we as a nation get to involved in other peoples lives.

We all have our hero's, it is just that not many become TV stars.........

Cool

**dommyracer** · 04-09-2006, 17:26

Some Quotes from RM on the BBC News website:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/5313078.stm

"UK wilderness expert Ray Mears said that Mr Irwin's death was a tragedy and that his thoughts were with his family, but that the incident served as a warning that "some things in nature should be left alone".

"He clearly took a lot of risks and television encouraged him to do that," Mr Mears said. "The voyeurism we are seeing on television has a cost and it's that cost Steve Irwin's family are paying today."

I'm not sure I'm with Ray 100% on that one.

I think it works both ways - Steve did the crazy stuff he did on the TV (and in real life) to get a certain amount of attention, which would obviously get him and his zoo more publicity.

But obviously, the same TV shows brought his work and the animals featured in it to the attention of more public than would have otherwise been the case.

I'd like to think that the awareness he brought and the good conservation work he has done far far outweighs his desire to be famous or make pots of money in the zoo business.

**Surrey Yeoman** · 04-09-2006, 17:47

Never mind all the pontificating about whether what Steve did was good, bad or whatever, he was a good bloke who brought a great deal of enjoyment to a great many people and managed to do a good bit for conservation too.

Deepest condolences to his wife and kids, Terri, Bindi Sue and Bob.

Yeoman

**jasons** · 04-09-2006, 17:48

verry sad he will be missed

**Rod** · 04-09-2006, 17:51

A sad day. Whatever us stiff upper lipped poms thought of him, He was dedicated and nature was his passion. A real loss

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