Steve Irwin, better known as The Crocodile Hunter, has bound across television screens around the world for the last ten years. His goal: to educate the masses through entertaining presentations about wildlife, habitat, and conservation. He had millions of fans and changed the way wildlife documentaries were made.
No matter what you thought of Irwin, the man I met several years ago was absolutely one of the most genuinely kind and also the most energetic person I've ever met. Yes, I am a fan and so is the rest of my family. Like fans everywhere, the news of Steve's death has hit my family hard.
Steve Irwin was killed after a stingray barb punctured his chest earlier today. According to ABC.net.au, "Steve Irwin and his team had been filming a new documentary, titled Ocean's Deadliest, at Batt Reef off the coast of the resort town of Port Douglas, when the accident occurred." He had been accompanied by his longtime friend and filmmaker John Stainton on this trip. Stainton said on CNN, "A desperate effort was made to save him." However, by the time rescue workers arrived, they pronounced him dead.
A marine science expert from Australia's Sea World, Trevor Long, said Irwin had no chance after taking the barb to the torso. The venom from the type of stingray involved in the incident is a protein-based venom and acts very quickly, stopping cardiac function.
Born in Victoria, Australia on February 22, 1962, Steve Irwin was raised to love and respect wildlife by his parents, Bob and Lyn. He received a python for his sixth birthday and wrangled his first croc at age nine while out with his father. By the late '60s and early '70s, their backyard was no longer large enough to adequately house the animals the Irwins tended. Finding a beautiful piece of land in Beerwah, the family built the Beerwah Reptile Park. Visitors paid 40 cents for adults and 20 cents for children to view the menagerie the Irwins had amassed over the years.
Lyn worked to rehabilitate healthier animals for future release and worked to develop a successful breeding program for the zoo. Bob became a well-known herpetologist, developing innovative conservation techniques and strategies that have been adopted statewide, and federally in Australia. And, there was young Steve, taking it all in.
In his late teens, Steve ventured into the bush to live. Living on his own, foraging food from the land, he gained a new respect for nature. By applying his vast knowledge of wildlife to his everyday encounters with it, he was able to live among the flora and fauna without harm. After nearly two years of life in the bush, Steve returned home to the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, as the zoo was renamed.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Darren Smith
I was shocked and saddened when I heard about the death of Steve Irwin. My heart and prayers go out to Terri the children and the rest of the Irwin family
2 - Joan Hunt
I've already been in contact with a friend who has worked closely with Steve and Terri for several years and he says everyone is quite devastated, as I had imagined they would be.
3 - mary
i was shocked about steve irwin he was a lovely guy i will miss him alot may he rest in peace
4 - June Nelson
Me and my family are very saddened by the death of Steve Irwin. Our love and prayers go out to his wife Terri and their children and of course the rest of the Irwin family. Steve was loved by millions of people from all over the world.He was a beautiful human being. My son got his love of wild life from steve he wants to be just like him when he graduates.He has a great love for croc's and snakes as well as all of Gods other wild life.We will miss Steve so much even though we never met him he was like family to us.Our love and prayers are with you Terri and Family.
5 - Hazem
SHOCKING..i dont know wat to say
6 - diana hartman
I am pleased to tell you this article is being featured in the Culture Focus today, September 4th.
Diana Hartman
Culture Editor
7 - Sarah Smith
Stop hating on steve! He was the best!! your a fag for saying hes a fag... he was the best wildlife person ever. He was the only one that kept me enterested.. you know you loved him and if you didn't your crazy. My prayers go out to his family... I know I am devistated, I can't imagine how they are feeling.
8 - Laura
Is this how your network chooses to honor someone's death? I just walked off of watching Matt Lauer's interview of Steve over his 2004 conterversial incident. He already apologized and stated he regretted holding his baby while feeding a croc at a zoo, do you have to rehash it again and again on the weekend he passes? How about honoring him and showing him in his glory instead of defending himself in front of his little girl? Bad choice!!!! Shame on you, I refuse to watch you.
9 - x-gb-x
R.I.P Steve irwin Mad Dude But a propaer legend
10 - Jenny
Steve was an awesome guy. I really looked up to him. God bless him and his family, and his friends too. I am so devistated, he had so much energy that i found it hard to believe he could ever die. Steve was like a legend, and legends will never die. He may not be a legend now but later on, as the world discovers more about his death he will be a legend. He did die, but at least he will always stay on this earth in the hearts of those who looked up to him. God Bless Steve Irwin.
11 - wow
wow i cant believe hes dead! he will be missed, we need more people in the world like him
12 - Nimi Nathan
its absaloutely heart breaking to hear steve irwins death! he had taught every1 many things about wildlife: not 2 hate them but 2 love them! he was every1 favourite crocodile hunter! he was natures best fren n to all humans aswell! amazing, faboulas, fantastic, cool n a kind soul!
he was the best! d bom! he was just everything! i know every1 n i will miss him very much!
god bless!
rest in peace steve irwin!
u r a STAR!!!!!!!!
13 - JAG
Very saddened by the untimely death of Steve Irwin.He died as he lived and will be missed.
14 - Tony Interval
May the Lord be with the Irwin family as the world morns one of the great wild life documentary geniuses of our time. He had educated many and passed doing his lifes passion.
15 - micki
its really sad that steve died i used to watch him on tv all of the time i used to think what he did was amazing but i guess he got a little too brave and did something that he shouldnt have done and look what happend ill miss his show a lot and i wish the best of luck to the irwin family.
16 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Here's to Steve Irwin "The Crocodile Hunter"!! Rest In Peace... May we all be as lucky to live as passionately has he did and to pass on while doing what we love!! I pray that his family will find the strength to move on, but to always remember his greatness & love.
May God be with you in this time of need....
Peace,
-Brian
17 - John Buttworthy
Dead, dead, deadski
18 - Siobhan Cullen
This is a really hard time right now for al his fans and family anf friends. he will be missed by many. the thing that i loved about him was how he educated all of us. he put his life on the line to educate us. i give my heart put to his familly and his friends at the zoo. i know everyone will miss him i know i am really sad he was like a hero to me. i really wanted to go and meet him but now i want to meet his familly and say in pwerson that im sry and wish them the best
RIP Steve Irwin
<3 siobhan
19 - Roaney Giles
For years I've watched and taped his shows to take to school and show my Sp Ed students. He's been a personal hero to me. His death is a shocking tragedy! My prayers go with his family and the people he worked with. The world is a poorer place without him in it. I'll greatly miss him.
20 - mahdi
Our family was shocked about Steve Irwin's Death.
So Ironic
My prayers go out to his family
21 - M.T.
I can't believe that He died, i loved his shows they were very entertaning. He died hoping that he could make a difference and he made that diff. I am so saddened by his death . prayers go to his wife and family.
22 - Triniman
I can't believe he's gone. He certainly educated and entertained millions of people and will hopefully live on in the reruns of his show. Huge loss.
23 - BRIAN J
I AM EXTREAMLY SAD TO HEAR THE SUDDEN DEATH OF STEVE IRWIN! FOR ME HE WAS A GREAT RAW MODEL! AS A SRILANKAN....I HAVE WATCHED ALL HIS FILMS AND DOCUMENTRIES! LIKE YOUR PRIME MINSTER SAID........HE IS ONE OF A KIND!
I WILL SADLY MISS AND THOUGHTS GO FOR HIS WIFE AND FAMILY TOO!
HE IS LOVED MY SRILANKANS FOR HIS FINE WORK!
GOD BLESS HIM
SANJEEV J
24 - kathi schu switzer
SO SORRY TO HEAR OF THE DEATH OF A WONDERFUL MAN, MY PRAYERS & THOUGHTS ARE WITH TERRI AND HIS CHILDREN. I WISH I COULD OF MEET HIM. I TOO LOVE ANIMALS. MAY THE LORD ABOVE BE WITH YOU TERRI & THE IRWIN FAMILY AND FRIENDS
kathi
25 - Chase Allen
"Steve, I know that you can hear me from up there in Heaven, so I just want to say you were an insperation to me always." "I also want to say that, I wish that you could come back to us, to be able to live your place in this world." Steve, one more thing to say is, ill remember you always. ALWAYS. "Steve, im glad that you were able to march with the penguins, swim with the crocs,and fly with the eagles. Ill see you in Heaven, mate. 1962-2006 STEVE IRWIN