Crikey - Steve Irwin dead

[Amelia]

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Steve Irwin dead

September 4, 2006

ABC News Online

The naturalist and television star Steve Irwin has died in a diving accident in far north Queensland. He was 44.

Police say he was stung through the heart by a stingray while diving off Port Douglas.

He was filming a documentary when the accident occurred around midday AEST near the Low Isles.

A helicopter arrived with paramedics on board to try to resuscitate him, but it was too late.

Irwin's body is being taken to the morgue in Cairns.

His family are believed to be flying from Brisbane to Cairns this afternoon.

Irwin, who was was born in Victoria in 1962, inherited his love of reptiles from his father.

His father Bob was a keen reptile enthusiast and moved the family to Queensland in 1970 to open a small reptile park on the Sunshine Coast.

Irwin took over the family business in 1991 and grew it into Australia Zoo.

In 1992 he ventured into television, making the first series of the Crocodile Hunter.

When the program aired in the United States, he shot to international fame.

Irwin is survived by his wife Terri and two children.

[:"blue"]* Terri is from Eugene Oregon. One episode of Crocodile Hunter focused on Terri and the wild life of Oregon. [/]

[Amelia]

Irwin's killer ray 'was probably startled'

By Leticia Makin

September 04, 2006 03:32pm

THE fatal stingray attack on Steve Irwin may have occurred because the animal was startled or frightened, an expert said today.

Victoria Brims, a marine life expert from Oceanworld in Sydney, said the stingray that killed Irwin was most likely provoked.

"I am aware he was filming a documentary and his documentaries are usually very hands on. I can only assume that he had some kind of hands on or close contact with the animal who like us when we get afraid defended itself," Ms Brims said.

Brims also said that for a sting to result in death the person involved had to be stung close to the heart and also have a reaction to the sting.

"For the most part people get stung on the foot when they accidentally tread on a ray and this can be no worse than a bacterial infection," Ms Brims said.

"Their barbs are very strong and release poison if touched. It must have got him right near the heart but the barb would not have gone through his chest."

There was an accident of this kind two years ago in Coogee but the man involved was treated by medics at the scene and survived the incident.

Brims said she had always dreamed of meeting Irwin. "He can be a bit quirky at times but he loved his work," she said. "It is a sad day and I am sure everyone around the world will hear of his death."

[Kountzer]

Wow.

[aldona]

just saw this here now - I've posted a link in the Aussie forum too.

One of my patients just told me about it this afternoon, after watching the breaking news on TV.

aldona

[Barbara]

I couldn't believe it when my husband told me last night. I loved his shows.

[Amelia]

Discovery Communications, Inc. Mourns Tragic Loss of Steve Irwin

Statement from Billy Campbell, President, Discovery Networks, U.S. Discovery Communications, Inc.

[]http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/crochunter/steve/gallery/statement_175.jpg[/]

Our entire company is deeply saddened by the tragic and sudden loss of Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. Steve was beloved by millions of fans and animal lovers around the world and was one of our planet's most passionate conservationists. He has graced our air since October 1996 and was essential in building Animal Planet into a global brand.

Steve was killed during a filming expedition on the Great Barrier Reef. While we are still collecting specific details, it was a rare accident in which Steve swam over a stingray and was stung by its barb in his chest. A doctor on board Croc One, Steve's research vessel, was unable to resuscitate Steve and by the time he was reached by the rescue helicopter he had passed away.

DCI Founder and Chairman, John Hendricks said, "Steve was a larger than life force. He brought joy and learning about the natural world to millions and millions of people across the globe. He was a true friend to all of us at Discovery Communications. We extend our thoughts and prayers to Terri, Bindi and Bob Irwin as well as to the incredible staff and many friends Steve leaves behind."

DCI CEO and President, Judith McHale said, "I don't think we will ever get over the loss of Steve Irwin, a human being of enormous heart, irrepressible enthusiasm and dedication to everything he touched."

Steve's loss has been felt around the world, evident by the hundreds of heartfelt condolences that have already flooded into Steve's fan site on AnimalPlanet.com.

To honor Steve and the enormous contribution he made to the world and to our company, DCI will rename the garden space in front of Discovery's world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, the "Steve Irwin Memorial Sensory Garden."

DCI is looking at the creation of the Steve Irwin Crocodile Hunter Fund, which we'll affectionately call "The Crikey Fund" to honor Steve's passion and exuberance for conservation and the animal kingdom. This fund will allow people from across the globe to make contributions in Steve's honor to support wildlife protection, education and conservation. The fund in addition to contributions by DCI will also aid Steve's Australia Zoo in Breewah, Australia as well as educational support for Bindi and Bob Irwin.

Right now, our focus is on Terri and the children. We will keep you informed as plans unfold to pay tribute to our beloved Steve Irwin.

[Barbara]

From what my husband has read the sting ray barb put a hole in his heart. Here is a link to where he read it.

Stingray Death rare

[Nan]

Those are nice gestures from Discovery Channel. All the news in this country has been headed by this tragedy.

[aldona]

In "The Australian" today...

[]http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,5235189,00.jpg[/]

[Parade Orange]

I read it in the paper this morn at work.

its so upsetting.

Pray for his family.

I saw him an his wife and little girl on oprah a few years ago.

That little girl idolized her father.

this is just so sad.

[olger]

Sad. But not surprising.

[Dr. Shane]

Talk radio has been pretty hard on the guy here. I guess I never followed his carear that close. We have a Wiggles video (probbally sinful because of the dancing) that he is in but that is about all I had seen of him.

[CyberGuy]

That guy took so many risks. I suspected he would get killed by one of his creatures on his films and sure enough it happened. They were filming when he got the barb in his chest by the stingray. They got it all on tape. How long before they release that to the public. Not anytime soon I expect.

Steve just would get to close to those dangerous creatures.

[Nan]

The owners of the film say it will never be released, I hope it remains secure. Obviously the police have it for the Coroner's Court at the moment.

Interesting that the family have rejected the offer of a State funeral, electing a private service to be followed by a public memorial a week or so later.

[Dr. Shane]

The film owners probally don't want to appear like they are making money off from his death. Steve Irwin, on the other hand, may have wanted to make money off from his death.

[Nan]

Shane the film makers were his very good friends. The one who viewed the film described it as awful and that he did not want to watch it again. This is not about making money, it is about not wanting this film to be circulating for the macabre enjoyment of some who would view it on the net.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars have already been donated in this country in memory of Steve Irwin - and there has been a lot from the US also.

[Dr. Shane]

If I recall correctly, some gruesome footage of Princess Diana's last moments made it to the public.

[Nan]

The very thing his friends want to avoid.

[CyberGuy]

That tape will most likely make it to the internet sooner or later. It may take a few years but someone will release it I expect.

[CyberGuy]

Video of Steve Irwin's Death to Be Shown?

"If I'm going to die, at least I want it filmed." Those were the words of Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin in an interview he gave four years ago to The Associated Press. His death, caused by a stingray stab into the heart while snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef on Sept. 4, was filmed. And now rumors abound that the video will be shown. Are those rumors true?

The Associated Press reports that Discovery Communications, the network that broadcasts Irwin's shows, insists there is no truth to those rumors that the footage would be released. There are concerns, however, that the tape, which is currently in the hands of the Queensland, Australia police, could get out--perhaps on the Internet. AP asks: Is making footage of a death public ever justified? "The only remote justification for publicizing this would be accident prevention," media analyst Martin Kaplan of the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California, told AP. "But that argument is a stretch." He likened it to a snuff film.

One person who did see the tape of Irwin's death was his close friend and manager, John Stainton. He called it "shocking." Stainton told reporters, "It's a very hard thing to watch, because you are actually witnessing somebody die, and it's terrible." But is it inevitable that it will someday end up on the Internet? "Only in the sense that there's a race for the bottom in our culture," Kaplan told AP. "This will take substantial vigilance on the part of the family."

[Amelia]

Airing of that tape would be utter cruelity to his family, especially his children. Their memories of their father should be the happy ones prior to his death.

[CyberGuy]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

Airing of that tape would be utter cruelity to his family, especially his children. Their memories of their father should be the happy ones prior to his death.

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I think it is only a matter or time before the tape is released. A few days or a few years it will be released by someone someday is my guess.

[Planey]

Australia has basically been in shock since Steve Irwin's death. The loss of what was essentially an icon has hit hard.

To add to this, we have lost what was probably an even bigger icon within a week with the death of a much-loved and respected motor racing stalwart, Peter brock.

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MOTOR racing legend Peter Brock's death today would deeply affect the nation, federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said.

Brock was a true Australian legend, with his touring car racing achievements ingrained in national folklore, Mr Beazley said.

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You can read the rest of the article here.

This particular death coming on top of Irwin's has really shaken the Australian public.

Graeme

PS

For you North American's who don't know Brocky, think Dale Earnhardt, Mario Andretti, AJ Foyt, Richard Petty, rolled into one.

[Kountzer]

If 'they' got around to showing JFK getting shot in the head, and his head subsequently being blown off, you can be sure that they will eventually show the video of Steve Irwin also.

[Nan]

Probably a little different as this event occurred off shore, there were no public nor news cameras around. If the only film is destroyed after the police have finished with it, they may achieve their aim of keeping it from public view.