Cynthetiq

Well, he finally didn't make it... he took lots of chances that most normal people don't, and it finally was fatal to him.

I heard his wife has not heard at this time as she's somewhere in Tasmania climbing a mountain...

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Willravel

That's horrible. I mean it's not altogether unexpected, of course, but at the end of the day this was a man of science who had a wonderful, if unique, appreciation for the world arund him. He brought an understanding of the most facinating creatures in the world in to our living rooms, at the expense of his safety and eventually his life. He will be missed.

Ch'i

That's terrible! I can't say I'm suprised though. I remember seeing him do some very dangerous (in a dumb way) things; running from a komodo dragon, teasing an allagator by pulling his hand in and out of it's reach, the list goes on.
Condolences...

la petite moi

Holy crap. I never thought I would see a day where Steven Irwin finally gets outsmarted by an animal. Wow. Just wow. Too bad though- he was an awesome entertainer.

ngdawg

Damn....I thought it was a joke at first.
I suppose if it's your time, better to go doing something you love rather than withering away with no good memories.

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Paq

depressing, i always loved irwin and hoped he'd have a long life and great retirement soon. I can't believe a stingray is what did it..


He will be missed..

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Infinite_Loser

I was just about to post this -.-'

I showed this too a few Australian friends of mine and they laughed. Apparently he wasn't too well liked in Aussie.

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powerclown

This just sucks. Fucking stingray. I guess its better than being torn to pieces by a 20-foot saltwater croc live on camera in front of your wife. The Isaac Asimov of television wildlife broadcasting. First, Marlin Perkins, now Steve Irwin. Now we have to wait another 20 years for a watchable tv animal guy.

Andre Agassi and Steve Irwin on the same fucking day.

Ustwo

He took foolish chances with very dangerous animals.

I enjoyed his show, but he showed a tremendous lack of respect for the power of the Animals he was with.

I know this seems harsh, but there is nothing else to blame here but his own ambition. Once you are a father you need to think a bit more about what you are doing.

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cyrnel

That's too bad. He would have made for a GROIT father and grandfather on so many levels.

I hadn't watched his shows in years. I think for many people he'd become a caricature of himself. At some point I stopped seeing the danger. That he'd ever be really hurt. He was just messing with animals in the relative safety of his element and with his experience of animals and their hazards. Still, I did respect his attempts to educate.

Somehow it doesn't surprise me he was caught out underwater, where we're out of our element and small things can become big problems in short order. Still, a stingray tail through the chest? Ouch.

G'night, Steve.

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Dilbert1234567

He was a great man, at least he died doing what he loved.

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pan6467

I have mixed emotions, he leaves behind 2 very young kids and a lovely wife, yet at the same time a part of me believes (from what I have read and interviews seen of him) that he would have prefered this type of death.

No matter, my heartfelt sympathies and best wishes go to his family in this tragic hour....... Steve was a man who was able to show animals (even the scariest of animals) can be harmless if treated with respect. He also brought much humor and love into the world. He will be sorely missed....


LINK: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060904/...rwin&printer=1

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dlish

as an aussie myself, im stunned. he's all over the news..the news has only just broken about an hour ago... try www.news.com.au ...

he will be sorely missed my aussies and non-aussies alike. he isnt the only crocodile hunter though. there have been plenty of aussies that do this sort of stuff way before he came along. he got the notoriety because of his colourful character and weird language..yes, his language is weird even to us aussies..and no, we dont all talk like that!

my cousin shoots documentaries for 'the original crocodile man' David Ireland. dont know if you guys have heard of him, but he's been in the game a lot longer than Steve has, but i think David gives the animals a little more respect. i think thats what finally out did Steve, his lack of respect and 'in your face' attitude with the animals.

its true... we lost two legends today.. Andre Agassi and Good ol' Steve Irwin.

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Daniel_

Says it all.

Selfish in the extreme to put thrill seeking or fame ahead of a wife and small children.

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Paq

I dont' wish to start an argument or anything, but he was hardly "thrill seeking" or searching for fame. From my understanding of Irwin's life, he was merely trying to teach the world about nature and wildlife. I hardly think he lacked respect for the animals he dealt with and I consider the guy one fo the most selfless people on tv.

I could be wrong, but that's just how i see it. I don't see it as thrillseeking or personal ambition beyond awakening people to what is outside their doorstep.

For that, I will miss him.

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powerclown

Yeah but I always thought the guy knew his shit, knew the animals, knew all the rules.
Can't overlook the family man aspect of it though. Gambling man got burned.

aKula

I'm sad to see such a great character pass away. He did a lot for animal conservation as well.

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Reese

RIP Steve. I have good memories of spending all day in my chair watching Croc hunter marathons.

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stevie667

I love steve irwin, you knew he wasn't a fool in what he was doing, quite the opposite, he knew exactly the risks and consiquences, but had the knowledge to do it.

He was a gambling man, and he lost, which sucks, because he was so enthusiastic about what he did, and helped bring that to other people.

I will miss him.

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zipper

R.I.P.

It's a shame...but it was his business.............

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analog

To quell this rumor:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20349888-2,00.html

Though I take issue with this:
That was quoted from John Stainton, his manager. Not a doctor or a medical professional of any kind- his manager. Thanks for the bullshit, John. You don't die instantly from a punture wound to the heart, nor are you suddenly rendered numb. I realize he's trying to comfort people, but the "I don't think there was any pain" line is only supposed to be used when it can reasonably be assumed. This is just bullshit from his manager who doesn't know his ass from his elbow- it's irresponsible and disrespectful to the family (because it's patronizing), in my opinion.

Amen to that.

For the number of times I've seen him actively taunting a dangerous animal just to get a rise out of it and make it attack him, I can't say he did it just to educate. He thoroughly enjoyed the rush. Just because you like to educate doesn't mean you're not a crazy thrill-seeker.

Finding out radiation is fatal to humans in order to invent the x-ray and help all humanity: good use of danger for education.

Being the only AIDS patient to have a zero infection count, allowing massive testing on your body to prove it, then going off the drugs to see if the AIDS virus came back, knowing that if it came back, the drugs are almost 100% guaranteed not to work again: good use of danger for education.

Putting your hands in various animals' mouths, and intentionally pissing them off so you can see what will happen (surprise spoiler- they attack your ass): yeah, not so much.

Drider_it

heh still unerved me to see him pick up snakes by the tails.. here in lousiana we have several that i wouldnt want my kids trying that with.

Yet in the end I liked him. My heart goes out to his family. sad to think your soul mate was miles away when it happened.

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spindles

Actually, the guy diving with him today said they (professional divers) often dive with sting rays without any problems. They are quite placid. This just seems like a very unfortunate accident.

They just replayed an interview with him on Andrew Denton's show (Enough Rope) on the abc (www.abc.net.au) from 2003. It was actually really interesting. I think he was just a hyper individual, who was really passionate about animals and animal welfare.

He will definitely be missed.

My thoughts go out to his wife and kids.

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lurkette

This was a bit of a freak accident - stingray stings are generally not fatal, but since it's an involuntary response, swimming directly above them can startle them and trigger the reflex, and if you get stung in the pelvis, abdomen, a major artery, or if the barb pierces the heart (which is understandably rare but happened to a 12-year-old boy in the past) it's likely to be fatal. All those nature shows with people floating above placid rays are misleading - diving with them is quite dangerous.

Sucks.

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eribrav

I don't feel the need to debate the merits of his every action. I would rather just wish a fond farewell to a wonderful entertainer, a man who educated his fans and supported his loving family.

Jove

It had to hurt for a few seconds while the tail was entering his chest and into his heart. Rather dreadful news to read because he seemed liked a friendly hyper individual.

ratbastid

He was a good bloke. You can argue over whether he was properly responsible for the risks of his position, but I can't imagine being heartless enough to adopt a "well, he asked for it" stance. Don't confuse television with reality. The guy worked with animals all his life, and he did so SAFELY, while crafting a TV show that portrayed him as a risk-taker. Everything I've read says that this was a freak accident, that stingrays are generally harmless.

He was a prominent and enthusiastic environmentalist and wildlife advocate. His work on- and off-screen kept hundreds of crocodiles alive and safely out of contact with humans. His work has educated and enlightened people all around the world. People who worked with him said that he was as enthusiastic and larger-than-life in his ordinary life as he was on camera. I admire him greatly and he will be missed.

Lady Sage

With rays, it isnt the insertion of the barb thatll inflict the worst injury... it is the removal of the serrated end that rips skin and heart muscle apart...
I hope it was quick, I hope he didnt suffer... My heart is heavy for Terri and the children for it is those left behind that have the worst battles ahead. I am quite sure that whatever version of afterlife Steve has chosen that he is having fun with crocs.

Ustwo

I'm not denying that, but it was obvious at times he took greater risk than was needed. Also when he dove, he was clearly 'out of his element' and never seemed nearly as confident as on land. That plus he always wore his same outfit while diving when i saw him, added to the show over what was best. Kakhi shorts and a shirt are not the best for diving.

The incident was freakish, of all the things to kill him, I'd have put stingrays far far down the list, but I dont' think anyone who watched his show can be shocked by the fact that he died doing it.

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Delirious

That is very sad. Many people tried to imitate his act but there never was and never will be another Steve Irwin.

ShaniFaye

This is one of the few "people I've never met" who's death actually made me cry. I truly admired this man for the passion of his conversavation convictions. I always figured he would die doing what he loved....but still....it wasnt a croc....and Im in a little shock.

RIP Steve....you did so much good

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jorgelito

I think I remember him trying to catch a crocodile running amok in Hong Kong but he couldn't do it or something.

thingstodo

I think the guy was pretty cool and really allowed people to see a different side of some of these animals. I also think he had a very good understanding of, apreciation of and respect for the animals he worked with. If not, he wouldn't have made it to 44.

This was a freak accident. I snorkel and dive and have been around all sorts of rays. They don't just attack you and I feel pretty sure he didn't just rush up on the thing.

Unexpected things happen with wild animals. Look and Siegfred & Roy.

Hat's off to you...

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Toaster126

While his death is tragic, I only hope to have made such an impact on the world when I have to leave... he did a lot of good for the causes he believed in.

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Marvelous Marv

You may not die instantly from a puncture wound to the heart, but how about when a load of sting ray toxin is injected into it? I saw that they had a "jellyfish sting expert" (how's that for a job) around, but if a "stingray sting expert" exists, there wasn't one available.

None of us are likely to know if death was nearly instantaneous, since the incidence of stingray toxin injected directly into the heart is so rare.

If you were a responsible and respectful EMT on the scene, is it your opinion that it would have been better to tell everyone that he died after a few minutes of extreme agony? What possible purpose is served by contradicting his manager on the matter? It's not like they didn't try to revive Irwin.

Give Stainton points for bedside manner.

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Halx

Call me morbid, but I'd kinda like to see the footage of that. Sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie where the B-list actor gets taken out leading up to the climax.

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Pip

^I wonder how long it'll be before that tape shows up on the web.

Anyways, I'm saddened by this news. I've always enjoyed his shows, he was one of a kind.

flat5

Many of you say he died because he took chances.
One report said the last human death from a stingray occured in 1945.

ShaniFaye

hmmm I read that there have been 17 since 1969 (in Australia)

I truly admired this man for the passion of his conversavation convictions. I always figured he would die doing what he loved....but still....it wasnt a croc....and Im in a little shock

(pasted from the other Steve Irwin thread...didnt realize there were two)

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Paq

99% sure that one won't surface on the web, or if it does, it'll be a long time from now if someone gets into the studio's vaults.

dunno why i feel that way, but i do.

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