Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin dead

[nugget]

Author: News.com.au Staff writers

Date: September 04, 2006 02:14pm

Source: News.com.au

Copyright: Copyright 2006 News Limited.

 

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.

 

R.I.P Steve

[everest]

 

ev

[pipeman]

thats sad news.

 

goes to show you can only push your luck for so long..

[Bundy]

at least he died doing what he loved....

[420Downunder]

We all knew he'd never live to be an old man but like him or hate him he did alot for Australias tourism industry, it's a sad day.

[Frazz]

A huge loss of a great aussie ... how freaky to be in such a position where a ray's barb could actyally penetrate the chest

 

RIP steve

 

[stonedstump]

R.I.P Steve Irwin

 

I can't think of much to say but I feel this is a sad day for many. When I saw the newsflash it was like back in 97 when Princess Diana died.

 

Steve was a good bloke, RIP

[Budman2012]

Damn!

Steve is a legend.

 

That is a shame.

 

I don't think there will be many people who will forget who The Crocodile Hunter was. What a great man.

I never understood what some people had against him. To me he was one of the greatest conservationists I've ever know of.

And also probly the most enthusiactic person I've ever had the pleasure to learn from.

 

Goodbye Steve ,

You will be missed mate.

 

Crikey!

 

From Budman (BongandBowl hunter)

 

P.s.

I logged on and saw this right as it was on the radio news , It took me 2 minutes to comprehend it

Man , I feel very sorry for his daughters especially the eldest , But they are all strong people and will handle it better than most I would think.

I hope so.

 

I'll have to get myself up to Australia Zoo one day and pay my respects.

 

4:20 cone for Steve Irwin (aka The Crocodile Hunter) Yeaah!

[F420]

Hey did alot of good things for kids with Leukemia. What a hero.

But CRICKY ya stuffed up this time Steve.

[cranky]

Bloody CIA killed him !!

Hey,,, he must of been a smoker, he was way too happy about life.

 

on a serious side, damn shame to see an aussie icon die, but Im 100% sure that he died happy doing what he was doing, and who could ask for more ??

 

hehehe I'll para phrase the guy ...............

 

"Ive handled more venomous snakes than anyone else in the world, and never been bitten once."

 

 

his record ............still unbeaten.

 

go hard or go home , I say , good on ya mate for showing how good us aussies are. sweet dreams in whta ever heaven you are in.