'Crocodile Hunter' Irwin killed

[Zak33]

always thought it would kill him in the end though, he took far greater risks than anyone I've ever seen doing wildlife shows.

I reckon the stingray was a hitman paid off by all the crocodiles he pissed off over the years.

agreed...

It gets its name from the razor-sharp barb at the end of its tail, coated in toxic venom, which the animal uses to defend itself with when it feels threatened.

Note the bit about defending itself.

I know it made good telly, but you wouldn't be aloud to bait dogs or bears like he did for all those year with Crocs. In theory he didn't hurt them, but he sure stressed them out!

If you wandered up to a Red Kites nest every day for a month and shouted into it with a loud hailer, you sure as hell would get hauled up infront of a magistrate at some point by the RSPB/RSPCA for being a plonker.

So I've never been quite sure why it was OK to go and stress out crocs.

/pulls on his flame retartant triple layer nomex suit...

I think the natural world itself is better off without his silly arse self. I am gutted for his kids and family gutted.

Some good potential debate material here. SHame it had to arrive with his death. If so few people have ever been killed by the ray/mantis that got him, he musta been up close...again!

[machinist]

Hey Zak33, that's damn harsh man !

His mission was to go out and show people what the animals were really like, he knew the risks, he was in the frontline. Yeah sometimes he was controversial, but did he harm animals ? NO.

I loved the guy, his enthusiasm was contagious, and my heart is with his family right now. Calling him a 'silly arse' is nothing short of childish.

[Rys]

Poor chuff, feel sorry for his kids (one of whom is too young to remember him) and missus. Lost a bit of respect for him when he pulled a Jacko with 1 month old Bob, but for what he did with Australia Zoo I salute the chap.

Sad to see him check out, he was good TV.

[MadduckUK]

[IMG]Snip[/IMG]

"Seeing as his body isn't even cold yet, we'll hold off the 'funny' pictures." - not my words

[Sair33]

I'm quite shocked and really sad that he has died, and I can't even begin to imagine how awful it must be for his family....

... BUT I have to say that I wasn't a fan. I know he campaigned for some great things, but I couldn't bear to watch him "taunting" innocent animals and getting them so wound up that they felt the need to defend themselves the only way they know how. I'm really not suprised that he died by being attacked by an animal purely trying to protect itself if he was getting so close that it had no other option.

I'm sure he was a nice bloke and therefore, its a tragedy that he has died. I just didn't agree with all he did.

[Stewart]

Not really needed that comment Zak.

RIP anyway. Was a good man and made good TV.

[autopilot]

I had a close call once with a Stingray when i was in Oz, just of Fitzroy island a few years ago.

He played a dangerous game, but it's a real shame, the guy was a legend. R.I.P.



PS - Zak33 - I see where you are coming from, bit under the circumstances i think thats a little out of order mate. Lets not forget all the good he has done too.

[shelley bda]

I don't think People realise just how much he did do for conservation, and endangered Animals, he has implemented successful breeding programmes, and rehabilitates rescued Wildlife, also he was the only Person in Australia at one time licensed by the governement to catch and milk venomous Snakes to make Antivenom.

I'm sure if his methods harmed these Animals, they'd close his Zoo, put him under cruelty to endangered Animals charges and he certainly wouldn't be allowed to show the whole wide world what it is he does and how he does it He was given an award recently for his services to wildlife and conservation in Australia.

Amazes me that people can make assumptions about him without actually finding out what it is he actually does do, and the reasons for his methods, as I understand it the methods he used placed less stress on the Animal in the long run, than if he were to use drugs which could cause other problems as well as stress.

[Michael]

'Seeing as his body isn't even cold yet, we'll hold off the 'funny' pictures.' x2

In all seriousness though, R.I.P.

[directhex]

crikey!

[MadduckUK]

Crikey means gee whiz, wow!

[Steve B]

how painfully ironic, to spend your whole life working with hundreds and hundreds of crocs, only to be the second person ever killed by a stingray. RIP Steve Irwin.

I guess it would have been more fitting if he had been devoured by a croc, like in Grizzly Man

[MSIC]

Well he lived by the sword and died by the sword.
He was a good entertainer, good for Austrailia and good for opening up more of nature to the wider world (albeit in a pop/tv way).
Sorry that it happened, it can never be said that the man was a hippocrate.

[MadduckUK]

or a train. like in south park

[jamin]

RIP.

Will be missed by many people. Thoughts are with his wife and kids..

[Daymonkey]

Yeh a real shame,
used to love his shows on tv.
Seemed to be a great guy.
RIP