'Crocodile Hunter' Killed by Stingray

Steve Irwin, the famed Australian “Crocodile Hunter”, was killed this morning in Australia off the Great Barrier Reef while filming for his upcoming documentary about the ocean’s deadliest creatures. In an accident with a stingray, Steve’s heart was punctured as he swam over the fish, which raised its tail of serrated spines that contains venom. Irwin was medivaced to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later. Irwin, who is survived by a wife and two small children, was 44.

Irwin was known for his numerous TV appearances and show on Animal Planet for his close encounters with wild and dangerous animals. His exuberant personality attracted children and adults alike.  CNN has this excellent piece on the incident.  WATCH some of his close calls here.

Irwin's manager and friend John Stainton said this at a news conference:

"The world has lost a great wildlife icon, a passionate conservationist and one of the proudest dads on the planet. He died doing what he loved best and left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind. He would have said, 'Crocs Rule!' "

While the death of Steve Irwin is a shock, it is no surprise. For years his risk taking behavior around the most dangerous animals hinted at this fate. Nonetheless, blessings on the Irwin family, thank you, Steve, for the wonderful memories and may you rest in peace.

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Comments

[Gayle]

I read about this at Shoprat's blog. What a shame, and what a freak accident.

At least he lived doing what he loved to do; so many people can't say that. He will be missed, not only by his family, but by all of us who he gave so much enjoyment to. May God rest his soul.

[Leticia]

Amy, we do think alike. I posted about Steve Irwin early this morning when I heard the news.

Luner was a little sad, because we all loved the "Crocodile Hunter."

He will be missed. Please keep his family in prayers.

[Jim Dandy]

I take a much different stance than either of these comments.

Personally people are meant to be around people, not in the Oceans playing cuddly with Great White Sharks not Playing Cuddly with 20 plus Foot Long Crocodiles, not playing cuddly with the dangerous wild life that should be left to the wildlife and not intermixed with human species which are on the domesticated order.

It comes from the old statement you play with danger and eventually your going to get bit.
I watched some of those Idiots one time playing cuddly stuff with some Great White Sharks and I shook my head saying to myself, there you go again playing with the little kiddies.

The whole thing was that people should stick with people and this business was in question back when that dude and his fiance were up in Alaska playing cuddly stuff with very large Brown Kodiak Grizzly Bears treating them like they were little cute stuffed animals.

People never learn.

Sometimes I begin to wonder if People are not more stupid than the animals.

[AubreyJ]

This was sad news today...
God bless Steve and his family...
AubreyJ.........

[Leticia]

Jim, I can see where you are coming from, however, if some of these people didn't take risks, we wouldn't know so much about sharks, bears and of course, the crocodile.

I admire these brave men and women for doing what they do. I get to see things on tv, such as the Great Barrier Reef and whales swimming in their natural habitat, snakes (ick) hibernating and how they lay eggs, etc, because more than likely that is as close as I will ever get to those beautiful places and animals.

They are educating us about these wonderous animals and alerting us to the dangers of them as well. You are always warned "not try this at home" these are professionals, etc etc. And the majority of us take heed.

I will miss him and his crazy fun antics. I learned to appreciate a creature that still terrifies, but I have learned to respect and admire. I got to see parts of Australia I will never in my lifetime see, especially the Koala's.

[Timmer ~ Righting America]

AMY -

Candie and I were also shocked and dismayed to hear about this. Our little boy Tristan LOVES the Crocodile Hunter shows, and Steve sort of grew on us as well. Thanks for putting this together!

Yes, JIM DANDY, it was a dangerous vocation. But the guy was much more than just an overgrown kid - he gave a great deal of himself to Australia and to the world. Too bad you couldn't spare a word of humanity for the man and his family. Sometimes it's just better not to say anything at all.

[Jim Dandy]

Timmer ~ Righting America

But you are not getting my point, this is not just addressed to Steve Irwin, in that particular case, this is addressed to people who go out and take risky stuff like this on, I don't see any reason for playing around with Dangerous Wildlife when one doesn't need to.

I guess it's just common sense that tells me that if I went on a boat in the Ocean that I would be a fool because there are fish there that makes a full grown human look like a guppie.
I think that it is foolish to take risks of things that are not neccessary.

[Jim Dandy]

Leticia

The point being is that it is useless, what I mean is that I don't need to have my brain re-examined to know that it is dangerously stupid to be in a small boat in the middle of the Ocean.

Common Sense tells me that these are dangerous creatures to my health.

I don't need to know what the specifics are about a given species to know of their danger, if it's about 4 or 5 times bigger than I am and has 5 or 6 inch long fangs and claws that are about 4 or 5 inches long I know that I put myself into a stupid position to go off and wonder around the northern Tundra and Artic not to know that there are very large and dangerous Bears up there.

This should all be common sense to anyone.

[Amy P]

I have mixed feelings but in no way think what Steve Irwin did was useless. It was risky, indeed, just as a soldier who risks his life and leaves his family to fight in foreign wars under dangerous circumstances is in danger. (*I like how Steve always used to say, "Danger, danger, danger!") His job may not have been bringing peace to the Middle East and liberating an oppressed people, but the world is about more than simply one dimension. His love for life, animals and family were an inspiration. I would not have chosen to risk my life to explore animals, but then I know my husband risks his life simply by training for war. Most US casualities happen not on the battlefield, but in the backfield training for military operations.

I thought years ago this sort of death would be inevitable. I was very saddened (still am) but am not at all surprised. It doesn't seem like a waste, but I do question being so risky. Remember the time he dangled his baby in one arm while feeding an alligator? It's here:

http://www.bloggerheads.com/images/steve_irwin_heli.jpg

Everyone's calling is different. Movers and shakers in the world don't always adhere to what the rest of us think of as "common sense". I wouldn't have done it, but then people criticize my husband for being a soldier.

[Jim Dandy]

Amy

I do not critisize your husband or other military for doing their duty and doing it with honor, how ever I need not look down from a hot air balloon after releasing a hammer to know that indeed it has fallen. Pure logic and common sense should tell anyone that you mess with dangerous animals your going to get it one of these days. For that reason I call it useless, becauase there is no reason or necessity for that.

[Amy P]

As I remember, Adam and Eve "hung around" animals pretty consistently as well. And St. Francis was quite a friend to the animals. I think love of animals reveals a special part of God's heart.

[Amy P]

**"Pure logic and common
sense should tell anyone that you mess with dangerous animals your going to get
it one of these days. For that reason I call it useless, becauase there is no
reason or necessity for that."

Funny, that's just what people say about fallen soldiers in Iraq.

[Jim Dandy]

Oh Good it's a debate against Amy, just what I needed.

Shees

First off Amy your point on Adam and Eve, yes back then God's intervention between the Animals and Adam and Eve were much different. Now adays Animals do not need much of a desire to attack humans, they instinctively do so because the Human species are by far an easier prey for them to kill.


Come on now Amy don't make this so easy, The fact that our Soldiers take that risk is for the defense of other human beings.
Now if Steve Irwin had died in the protection of a human being to fight off that Sting Ray, that would be on the same level.

If you must debate me don't make it so easy.

[Amy P]

Phil, your split personality is disturbing. Please don't post here anymore.

[Aimz]

I heard this news yesterday afternoon, my prayers go out to his family. In regards to the danger that Steve got into each time he was with the animals that fascinated him so much I think he was probably well aware of the potential consequences but still kept going back anyway. Good for him for teaching so many people about the beauty of nature.

[Karen]

Oh, this is awful news. But you're right, in light of his risky behavior, I can't say I'm shocked, but I'm very sad to hear this. I feel bad for Terry and his children. I hope Terry carries on with the wonderful work he did.

[Amy P]

The point being there are more vocations in the world than soldiering and most are important. Steve Irwin's vocation may not have been defending or fighting for human freedom, but it was still important. One could argue that the Challenger victims died for nothing. People argue that soldiers fighting for Muslims to have freedom is stupid as well. Some would argue they're just as animalistic as the creatures Steve Irwin dealt with.

I am not comparing the two vocations in terms of importance. Neither will I disrespect the life's work of a good man who's had a fuller life obviously than Jim Dandy.

[Gayle]

Steve Irwin had a gift. God gives all of us gifts. I've been told I have the gift of discernment. Steve had the gift of loving, handling and knowing animals. What happened to steve was an accident, and accidents happen every day. It's interesting that he was not killed handling much more dangerous wild-life, but by a freak accident with a sting-ray and it could have happened to anyone who dives.

Neither do I believe that he suffered from a lack of common-sense. Steve knew exactly what he was doing and why he was doing it. He loved what he did and he was the best there is! I'm certain that one thing he never did was judge a good man who died in a freak accident.

[lexie]

I will definetly miss steve's shows he was a realy cool guy. me and my family used to watch him alot. he brought joy to my family. we would talk about how crazy and brave he was. this shouldnt come as a surprise but in some ways it does. its hard to beleive such a great guy is gone. my heart goes out to his family may god be with them.

[Mark Krauss]

I happened to be up when this story broke last night, at first I thought it was a joke, it took a couple of sources to convince me it wasn't, I don't know what many of you call danger, annoying crocs is dangerous, yes, handling poisonous snakes is too, but stingrays? many of you have probably disturbed the smaller variety of these critters if you've ever went to a sandy beach on the gulf coast or southern atlantic,(maybe the pacific coast too, But I've spent very little time on western beaches) I had never heard of a fatal stingray encounter before this, of all that could have gone wrong for Irwin, this was about the last thing I'd have thought, breaking your neck falling down stairs would be by far more likely. In spite of the fact I found this guy kind of annoying on the tube, I have a lot of respect for his accomplishments, and My heart goes out to his wife Terri and his Kids.

[-ben]

While a stab by a stingray on any of the limbs amounts to nothing more than an excruciatingly painful wound, when the same is inflicted upon the torso, death is often the result. It wouldn't have mattered whether the spine punctured his heart.

[Johnny]

I am deeply saddened by Steve's untimely and tragic death. This type of killing by the tepid species of ray is extremely rare - the last human death by ray sting in Australia was 60 years ago.

Steve embodied an innocence and a joy for life that can only come from one source - God Almighty. His boyish delight in the world God created always gave me a surge of thanks. His childlike wonder at the marvels of the animal kingdom were inspiring and infectious. There was nothing fake, nothing phony, nothing plastic or trendy about the Croc Hunter - he was the real McCoy all the way through. His kind of childlike innocence and complete devotion to what he esteemed valuable will be a model worthy of all of our emulation.

FWIW, Steve did not perish because of anything reckless or daredevil; rays rarely attack this way, and always when they feel threatened. None of us knows mysterious God's purposes in full; I choose to assume that the LORD wanted this modern day Adam in heaven with Him.

Farewell, our friend, our brother, Steve Irwin. Our prayers go with your lovely wife and precious children.

Johnny

[Leticia]

All I can say is that I am going to miss him and his television show. He kept on talking about passing on his dad's legacy to his two children, this was in 2004, and regardless of how people feel about his conservation efforts and tv program. A wife, and two children who were truly loved, are alone now.

I hope Terri would like to continue his work.

[Amy P]

Leticia,

Amen.

[Carl]

I am a fan of The Crocodile Hunter and was shocked and saddened to hear of his death on the news yesterday. Like many fans on the blogosphere I put up a tribute to him as well. He will truly be missed. Apparently there are a lot of fans in the blogosphere judging by all the entries about him that I've read today. I wish I could find something to make a living at that I could be as passionate about.

[Laarni]

RIP! sigh.

[Dr. BLT]

I wrote this little croc rock tune for Steve. I thought I'd share it with the rest of you too:

Crocodile Hunter
words and music by Bruce L. Thiessen, aka Dr. BLT (c)2006
http://www.drblt.net/music/crocodileHunter.mp3