How sad and shocking. Crocodile hunter Steve Irwin has been killed by a stingray:
"CROCODILE Hunter Steve Irwin has died after a stringray barb caught him in the chest.The 44-year-old international TV star was swimming off the Low Isles at Port Douglas filming an underwater documentary when the incident happened.
Ambulance officers received a call to a reef fatality this morning at Batt Reef. The Queensland Ambulance Service said the call was received about 11am and an emergency services helicopter was flown to the boat with a doctor and emergency services paramedic on board.
Irwin had a puncture wound to the left side of his chest and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Irwin leaves his wife Terri and young children Bob and and Bindi.
His wife is understood to be trekking on Cradle Mountain in Tasmania and has yet to be told of her husband's death."
He lived an exciting but very dangerous life. What a tragedy this is for his family.
UPDATE:
Here's a bit more information. This one's saying it wasn't the venom but the barb itself that did the damage. I don't see how a barb could actually do that. A perfect angle, maybe?
UPDATE II:
More on the barb. It indeed functioned as a knife.
Also, there's a nice write-up here, and a fun video of a happy team in happier times.
You knew it would happen sooner or later. I liked the guy and admit I watched his show but I always felt that his program and all the copycats that followed it showed a profound lack of respect for the animals they showcased.
Years ago, the show that came closest to the personal risk element of Irwin's show was Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. Marlin Perkins, safely off screen would intone something like, "While Jim checks the Nile Crocodile's prostate, I'd like to talk to you about life insurance from Mutual of Omaha." I always felt like Jim was unaware of what Marlin was doing while he was rolling in the mud under some rabid hippo or attempting to tweeze the Cape Buffalo's ingrown nostril hair.
I hope the loss of Irwin will cause some to reconsider these kind of shows but I doubt it. Worst of all, it is awful to know that his wife had not yet learned of her husband's death before it became a media event.
Posted by: tfhr at September 4, 2006 02:52 AMMutual of Omaha was so gory. Lots of nature red in tooth and claw. Lots of killing and feeding.
It's very sad Irwin's wife will have to find about his death like this. Some knowledge is meant to be private before it is public.
Posted by: Donnah at September 4, 2006 02:57 AMwow, geez.. It reminds me that it's usually
something out of left field like this. I
seemed to think they (Irwin and his crew) were
so focused on what and where they were going they seemed oblivious to stuff like this. I have a cousin who was an avid Air-boater, until he had an
accident (out of left field) At least it can be said he was doing what he loved.
Our condolences to the family.
I've had one of those barbs in my foot...I can't imagine what one that could kill would be like in the chest...
Posted by: csason at September 4, 2006 03:09 AMI remember watching one of his specials where he basically kissed the most venemous snake in the world, in the wild, as the thing was slithering around unrestrained. And I sort of thought, he kind of deserves it if he gets it. For being that ridiculously uncautious.
But a stingray? That's pretty surprising.
Posted by: Bill from INDC at September 4, 2006 03:18 AMI know, who gets killed by stingrays? It must have struck him dead on near the heart and the poison sent him into cardiac arrest. That's all I can figure.
Posted by: Donnah at September 4, 2006 05:51 AMI think even "stingrays" are filter creatures. It's odd that he would have been barbed.
Honestly, what little I know, I think he would have had to have pissed that big swimming molusc off a LOT to be barbed. . . but thats classic steve, which is all admirable, and pathetic, and sad, and stupid.
Posted by: Wickedpinto at September 4, 2006 08:28 AMI always thought that those show guys teased the animals too much and then jumped back into safety for the sake of a cheap show thrill. Sorry that it backfired in this case
Sad to hear of his death, go figure that it would be a ray that tagged him.
I always expected it would be a bit more violent and somehow be related to a pissed off reptilian.
The world just grew a bit more boring.
Posted by: Gmac at September 4, 2006 12:51 PMSeveral of the articles I have read did say that the barb actually did pierce his heart. Even if it wasn't venomous, that certainly would do the trick.
Posted by: Stander at September 4, 2006 01:25 PM"Barb" I think makes it sound like a little thing, when in reality he was stabbed in the heart by something that looked like this.
Posted by: dorkafork at September 4, 2006 02:15 PMSorry, this:
http://tellmewhereonearth.com/Web%20Pages/Fossils/Fossils%20Photos/stingray_barb-australia_small.JPG
Posted by: dorkafork at September 4, 2006 02:15 PMThanks, Dorkafork. From that image, it looks like it would be like getting stabbed in the chest with a knife.
Posted by: Donnah at September 4, 2006 02:24 PMyeah I got nailed by one down near Cochina beach, in the pass..but the barb itself was maybe 2 inches
total.
I haven't looked at the image, but it stands to reason he was hunting down some monster ray.
He damn sure got off on it.
Posted by: csason at September 4, 2006 02:45 PMI liked his shows and I am very sorry to hear about his death. I can hardly imagine what was in his wife soul when she heard about the shocking news from media.
Posted by: Natasha at September 4, 2006 03:06 PMHe was unique. An amazing ability to covey an almost chidlike enthusiasm for wild and dangerous critters. At least he died doing what he loved to do.
Posted by: carl in Atlanta at September 4, 2006 04:22 PMWhy should Steve Irwin have been wearing 20+ sunblock?
It keeps out harmful rays.
Posted by: PB at September 5, 2006 02:26 AMAnd the first joke comes from one of his compatriots.
The first I ever heard of him was years ago when my nieces were visiting and they wouldn't stop showing each other random objects like pencils and salt shakers, while talking in Australian accents.
I am a fan of The Crocodile Hunter and was shocked and saddened to hear of his death on the news yesterday. I went ahead and put a memorial entry about him on my blog as well. Apparently there are a lot of fans in the blogosphere judging by all the entries about him that I've read today. Regardless of how you felt about him, you had to admire the passion he showed for his work. I know I did and still do. I wish I could have a job that I was that passionate about.
Posted by: Carl at September 5, 2006 04:00 PMSTEVE, YOUR A JOKE DUDE, YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DIE FROM A KOMODO DRAGON NOT A FREAKIN STINGRAY
IMHO
you phail.
R x I x P ! <3 x
Posted by: x CARoLANN HEATHER & ASHLEY x at September 6, 2006 07:30 AMChuckNorris, Im disgusted that you would be laughing about this. He did a world of good for Australia and for the plight of native animals in this country. I have never seen a man more enthusiastic and passionate. He has left behind a beautiful wife, daughter and son. A man who did what he loved and who has a world of people who loved him? Can you say the same?
Your the joke mate.