RIP Croc. Hunter-Steve Irwin (stingray) :(

[greystreet41]

CAIRNS, Australia -- Steve Irwin, the hugely popular Australian television personality and conservationist known as the "Crocodile Hunter," was killed Monday by a stingray while filming off the Great Barrier Reef. He was 44.



Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Steve Irwin, shown here in 2002, was renowned for his enthusiasm.
Irwin was at Batt Reef, off the remote coast of northeastern Queensland state, shooting a segment for a series called "Ocean's Deadliest" when he swam too close to one of the animals, which have a poisonous barb on their tails, his friend and colleague John Stainton said.



"He came on top of the stingray and the stingray's barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his heart," said Stainton, who was on board Irwin's boat at the time.



Crew members aboard the boat, Croc One, called emergency services in the nearest city, Cairns, and administered CPR as they rushed the boat to nearby Low Isle to meet a rescue helicopter. Medical staff pronounced Irwin dead when they arrived a short time later, Stainton said.



Irwin was famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchword "Crikey!" in his television program "Crocodile Hunter." First broadcast in Australia in 1992, the program was picked up by the Discovery network, catapulting Irwin to international celebrity.




He rode his image into a feature film, 2002's "The Crocodile Hunters: Collision Course" and developed the wildlife park that his parents opened, Australia Zoo, into a major tourist attraction. His life's work also took him to Bristol, Conn., where he appeared in one of ESPN's "This is SportsCenter" commercial spots in 2006 wrangling the Florida Gators mascot.



"The world has lost a great wildlife icon, a passionate conservationist and one of the proudest dads on the planet," Stainton told reporters in Cairns. "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!"'



Prime Minister John Howard, who hand-picked Irwin to attend a gala barbecue to honor President Bush when he visited in 2003, said he was "shocked and distressed at Steve Irwin's sudden, untimely and freakish death."



"It's a huge loss to Australia," Howard told reporters. "He was a wonderful character. He was a passionate environmentalist. He brought joy and entertainment and excitement to millions of people."



Irwin, who made a trademark of hovering dangerously close to untethered crocodiles and leaping on their backs, spoke in rapid-fire bursts with a thick Australian accent and was almost never seen without his uniform of khaki shorts and shirt and heavy boots.



His ebullience was infectious and Australian officials sought him out for photo opportunities and to promote Australia internationally.



Irwin's public image was dented, however, in 2004 when he caused an uproar by holding his infant son in one arm while feeding large crocodiles inside a zoo pen. Irwin claimed at the time there was no danger to the child, and authorities declined to charge Irwin with violating safety regulations.



Later that year, he was accused of getting too close to penguins, a seal and humpback whales in Antarctica while making a documentary. Irwin denied any wrongdoing, and an Australian Environment Department investigation recommended no action be taken against him.



Stingrays have a serrated, toxin-loaded barb, or spine, on the top of their tail. The barb, which can be up to 10 inches long, flexes if a ray is frightened. Stings usually occur to people when they step on or swim too close to a ray and can be excruciatingly painful but are rarely fatal, said University of Queensland marine neuroscientist Shaun Collin.



Collin said he suspected Irwin died because the barb pierced under his ribcage and directly into his heart.



"It was extraordinarily bad luck. It's not easy to get spined by a stingray and to be killed by one is very rare," Collin said.



News of Irwin's death spread quickly, and tributes flowed from all quarters of society.



At Australia Zoo at Beerwah, south Queensland, floral tributes were dropped at the entrance, where a huge fake crocodile gapes. Drivers honked their horns as they passed.



"Steve, from all God's creatures, thank you. Rest in peace," was written on a card with a bouquet of native flowers.



"We're all very shocked. I don't know what the zoo will do without him. He's done so much for us, the environment and it's a big loss," said Paula Kelly, a local resident and volunteer at the zoo, after dropping off a wreath at the gate.



Stainton said Irwin's American-born wife Terri, from Eugene, Ore., had been informed of his death, and had told their daughter Bindi Sue, 8, and son Bob, who will turn 3 in December.



The couple met when she went on vacation in Australia in 1991 and visited Irwin's Australia Zoo; they were married six months later. Sometimes referred to as the "Crocodile Huntress," she costarred on her husband's television show and in his 2002 movie.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

[fishdoc11]

Man that sucks

[rcmike]

Yeah, I saw that this morning. Sad.

[gflat65]

Wow. Sorry to hear that...

[rsteagall]

Very sad indeed. We're watching The Wiggles w/Steve Irwin this morning as tribute.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000068GFY

[Pinchey]

It's tragic, the man had such intensity and passion for what he did.

If you were to die doing what you loved, what would it be?

[luckyfish]

I read this today also. Very sad. All the risks he took over the years but killed by such a rare event.

[reefer5060]

thats sad he will be very missed

[RevRoy]

very sad, my prayers go out for his family.

I hated to hear it early this morning.

Although I had always said he was an idoit, I realy thought it would be a big snake that would get him.

but it is so sad none the less.

[2639]

When I first saw him, I was appaled by his enthusiasm. But, I grew to understand and appreciate his love for the animal kingdom. I was hurt nearly as bad as when I heard Stevie Ray VAughn died suddenly back when I was in high school.

I wish all enthusiasts all the luck in what you do. Never settle and never give up!!!

[Angela Short]

OMGOSH, I hadn't seen this! How awful and his poor family. I loved watching him .

[Mikeyjer]

I love watching his shows!!! It was very sad for me....Just a couple of weeks ago, while I was down at the beach with Devil Rays swimming less then a foot away from my waist....

[rsteagall]

I read today that per his wishes they will be airing the final moments. He instructed his film crew to not stop fimling even if he was getting mauled to death.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...p/15445690.htm

and other sources as well.