'Crocodile Hunter' Irwin killed

[Nick F]

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.

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

I really liked watching him, shame really as he did so much for animals.

[edavies87]

Yeah this is gutting, was wrtiting a thread when you posted this!

Ed

[Ferral]

I am gutted reading this.

Loved watching him and the things he done for wildlife and Australia. He will be missed

[BigFatCat]

Yes, he strove to teach people about the unknown. A fitting end, albeit premature, being close to nature. It wouldn't have been the same succumbing to a disease or a road accident.

[chuckskull]

Always fun to watch. I 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.

[Rhyth]

He's only the second Australian to die from a stingray attack, the first in 1949. The ray pierced his chest, quit possably into the heart. For a ray to attack is extremely rare.

He'l always be a ledgend, R.I.P fella.

[FUBAR]

Still can't believe it. My mum couldn't stand him because she would get scared when he would have a snake between his legs. I thought he was great, I learned more from nature than I have done from any other nature program. In fact, I don't watch nature programs but I would watch his. Now I'm going to know nothing of nature.

[mart_haj86]

Deeply saddened to hear this this morning, thoughts go out to his family. He was great to watch.

[shelley bda]

Absolutely gutted just can't believe it, loved him to bits

I loved the way he campaigned tirelessly for the welfare of endangered Crocs and gained huge support for them from his Croc Diaries and Crocodile Hunter series.

It's so ironic though that after wrestling so many poisonous Snakes and Crocs that it's something that rarely kills that killed him I suppose he died happy, helping the Animals that he loved so much.

Lets hope that his work continues through Bindi and Bob and they will be as passionate and as enthusiastic about these Animals as their Dad was

[Butuz]

Thats very sad. I suppose the one way to look at it is - he died doing what he loved. Thats more than alot of us can hope for.

Butuz

[nichomach]

I was terribly saddened to hear of this on the news this morning. A man whose heart was in the right place even as his arm was stuck down a croc's throat. Barking, completely, but a fantastic ambassador for wildlife, and a very sad loss.

[5lab]

legend.

[Lowe]

A sad loss indeed, his programs were interesting and he had a huge personality. Like him or loath him you can't argue with what he did for the Australian wildlife.

[Bazzlad]

God rest his soul.

XXXXxxxxXXXX

[wasabi]

sob

He had such a cool surname too

[wasabi]

Thats very sad. I suppose the one way to look at it is - he died doing what he loved. Thats more than alot of us can hope for.

Butuz

Try riding motorbikes