Steve Irwin Dead

[El Presidente]

Steve's Zoo is about 50 minutes north of Czar house. He was a genuine larger than life Aussie who we will miss enormously.

Damn sad.

THE Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, is dead.

He was killed in a freak accident in Cairns, police sources said today.

It is understood he was killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest.

He was swimming off the Low Isles at Port Douglas filming an underwater documentary when the tragedy occured.

Ambulance officers confirmed they attended a reef fatality this morning at Batt Reef off Port Douglas.

Irwin's body is being flown to Cairns.

It is believed his American-born wife Terri is trekking on Cradle Mountain in Tasmania and is yet to be told of her husband's death.

Irwin - known worldwide as the Crocodile Hunter - is famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchcry "Crikey!".

The father of two's Crocodile Hunter program was first broadcast in 1992 and has been shown around the world on cable network Discovery.

He has also starred in movies and has developed the Australia Zoo wildlife park, north of Brisbane, which was started by his parents Bob and Lyn Irwin.

Tributes have already started pouring in for the larger-than-life character.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who used a photograph of his family at Australia Zoo for his official Christmas card last year, hailed Mr Irwin for his work in promoting Australia.

Irwin was heavily involved in last year's "G'Day LA" campaign.

"The minister knew him, was fond of him and was very, very appreciative of all the work he'd done to promote Australia overseas," a spokesman said.

A Tourism Queensland spokeswoman said the death was shocking and paid tribute to Irwin's "enormous contribution" to his adopted state.

Louise Yates said it was impossible to quantify how much Mr Irwin had meant to the Queensland tourism industry.

"I don't think we could even estimate how much he brought us through his personality and his profile and his enthusiasm about Queensland," she said.

"It would be difficult to estimate how much he was worth. And it would be difficult to underestimate."

She said Irwin had been a larger-than-life ambassador.

"It's not just what he brought but what he took with him when he travelled, his passion."

Australia Zoo, on southeast Queensland's Sunshine Coast, employs more than 500 people and attracts thousands of visitors every day.

But Ms Yates said it would be "unfair and unjust" to put a dollar value on Irwin's worth to the state, because of how much he had given.

With The Courier Mail and AAP

[Wiley]

My wife, my kids, and I are all huge fans of Steve Irwin. I can't say I'm surprised that he died, since he flirted with death on a regular basis, but it still makes me ill to think that his little kids will only know him by watching him in videos.

I'll say a prayer for his wife and kids.

We're all the poorer for this, I think. :-(

[shrink]

What a shame. He was a great, if somewhat overenthusiastic, ambassador for Australia. At least he died doing what he loved most.

[JMH]

Just heard an hour or so ago. Hopefully they can get the word to his wife soon. Anyone who works that hard to help bring public attention to the issue of the protection of wildlife and their habitats is cool with me :-(

[Jimmy2]

very sad:-(

[DrAlejandro]

I just saw that, very sad story indeed... worst of all is that he leaves behind two young kids, thats the real tragedy :-(

[mgillett]

Went to his zoo a couple of years ago. Awesome place.

Hope the zoo will survive without him. :-(

[habanablue]

live by the swordfish, die by the swordfish....or stingray?! Isn't that what they say?

Sorry guys never had a mature outlook towards death... Good on him for a great job in bringing nature to everyone's attention but you can't say he didn't have it coming...at least he wasn't dangling his kid in front of him....

[cigarnv]

Such a shame for a young man who brought so much to the world of wildlife. Always entertaining and engaging. RIP

[cvm4]

That's a damn shame. Atleast he died doing what he loved. I used to always watch his show. May he RIP.

[korryp]

A sad sorry to read this morning. He was a larger than life character.

[tattoodad13]

Read about it earlier this morning, Sad news. He he did things on a daily basis that others would never attempt.

[Havana Joe]

It is very sad. I was shocked to hear it on the news this morning.

[Mel]

» That's a damn shame. Atleast he died doing what he loved. I used to always

» watch his show. May he RIP.

Lived a hell of a life and glad he didn't get taken out in a car crash or some garbage like that.

[Little Steve]

I never would have guessed he would go out like that.

Sad

[Vetteman]

Sympathies to Australia on the loss of a valuable ambassador, and lover

of wildlife. He did what he loved, but I feel sorry for his wife and children

[simmich]

RIP animal man :-(

[aitker]

It's such a shame. He was know around the world for his boundless enthusiasm for all things living. The world is a better place for him having been here if only for a minute.

[hoagie55]

Prayers sent up for his wife and family.

I was truly surprised to hear that he died. I am very sorry to hear that. He did so much for the animal kingdon. He will be greatly missed!!

Talk about a freak accidents!!. Sting Ray stings/bites in general are not deadly; however, this time the sting ray had about a 10" stinger that swung up and stabbed him thru the heart.

Very sad indeed!

[Chicago]

» Steve's Zoo is about 50 minutes north of Czar house. He was a genuine

» larger than life Aussie who we will miss enormously.

»

» Damn sad.

»

»

»

»

» THE Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, is dead.

»

» He was killed in a freak accident in Cairns, police sources said today.

»

» It is understood he was killed by a stingray barb that went through his

» chest.

»

» He was swimming off the Low Isles at Port Douglas filming an underwater

» documentary when the tragedy occured.

»

» Ambulance officers confirmed they attended a reef fatality this morning at

» Batt Reef off Port Douglas.

»

» Irwin's body is being flown to Cairns.

»

» It is believed his American-born wife Terri is trekking on Cradle Mountain

» in Tasmania and is yet to be told of her husband's death.

»

» Irwin - known worldwide as the Crocodile Hunter - is famous for his

» enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchcry "Crikey!".

»

» The father of two's Crocodile Hunter program was first broadcast in 1992

» and has been shown around the world on cable network Discovery.

»

» He has also starred in movies and has developed the Australia Zoo wildlife

» park, north of Brisbane, which was started by his parents Bob and Lyn

» Irwin.

»

» Tributes have already started pouring in for the larger-than-life

» character.

»

» Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who used a photograph of his family at

» Australia Zoo for his official Christmas card last year, hailed Mr Irwin

» for his work in promoting Australia.

»

» Irwin was heavily involved in last year's "G'Day LA" campaign.

»

» "The minister knew him, was fond of him and was very, very appreciative of

» all the work he'd done to promote Australia overseas," a spokesman said.

»

» A Tourism Queensland spokeswoman said the death was shocking and paid

» tribute to Irwin's "enormous contribution" to his adopted state.

»

» Louise Yates said it was impossible to quantify how much Mr Irwin had

» meant to the Queensland tourism industry.

»

» "I don't think we could even estimate how much he brought us through his

» personality and his profile and his enthusiasm about Queensland," she

» said.

»

» "It would be difficult to estimate how much he was worth. And it would be

» difficult to underestimate."

»

» She said Irwin had been a larger-than-life ambassador.

»

» "It's not just what he brought but what he took with him when he

» travelled, his passion."

»

» Australia Zoo, on southeast Queensland's Sunshine Coast, employs more than

» 500 people and attracts thousands of visitors every day.

»

» But Ms Yates said it would be "unfair and unjust" to put a dollar value on

» Irwin's worth to the state, because of how much he had given.

»

» With The Courier Mail and AAP

It reminds me of our coach, Randy Walker who died at age 52 from a sudden heart attack. He was larger than life and lived every day to it's absolute fullest. He would have no regrets nor want anybody to greive for a life lived the way he wanted it. No looking back. My condolences to the family left behind.

[Black Plague]

At least his up there now, pissing off animals with Marlin Perkins in heaven

[Ginseng]

A tragedy for sure. My condolences go out to his young family. I will not mourn him though. He went out doing what he loved. May we all be as lucky!

Wilkey

[xibbumbero]

RIP Mate. X:-(

[CIGARHead]

I love watching croc hunter and all the various other crazy shows Steve did. I could tell he was a very genuine guy that cared and repected wildlife and loved his family. He will be missed.

[Maverick]

I think the thing about Steve is that he is an Aussie! In this world were our country is being invaded by US styles of dress and behaviour, with our kids dressing like gangsters and treating everyone with distain, it was always refreshing to see Steve Irwin representing everything that was great about being an Aussie!

Ross...