Irwin, 44, was stung by a stingray while filming a documentary at Batt Reef, Low Isle off Port Douglas at about 11:00 a.m. According to a police statement, "his crew called for medical treatment and the Emergency Management Queensland Helicopter responded; however, Mr. Irwin had died."
Stingrays have poisonous barbs on their tails. John Stainton, who was on board Irwin's boat at the time, told the Associated Press that Irwin "came on top of the stingray and the stingray's barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his heart."
Stainton said Irwin had been filming a segment for a series called Ocean's Deadliest , People.com reports
Steve has left behind a wife, 42-year-old Terri, and two children -
eight-year-old daughter Bindi and his son Bob, two.
In 1992, the year The Crocodile Hunter first began airing, Terri Irwin told PEOPLE of her husband, "The thing that attracts me to him is that passion he has for what he does. The animals have no capacity to return Steve's affection. In fact, all they want to do is kill him."
Irwin himself admitted, "I realize that one mistake and I could be dead, but I've had a lot of experience and mostly I know when there's danger."
Fans have flooded internet message boards devoted to the 44-year-old star to
pay their tributes.
On the Animal Planet site, Whitney Colbert wrote: "His compassion for the
living things around him was and is truly remarkable. We've lost a great
man."
Another forum member, Caligirlwithcroctattoos, posted: "At least he died
doing what he loved, teaching us about the animal world. He will be missed."
Steve - who was renowned for his daredevil antics on his 'Crocodile Hunter'
TV series - hit the headlines in 2004 after he was caught holding baby Bob,
who was just one month old at the time, while he fed crocodiles.
Later that year, he was cleared of charges claiming he got too close to
penguins, a seal and humpback whales while filming a documentary in
Antarctica.
Mr Irwin's body was flown to a morgue in Cairns, where stunned family and friends were gathering tonight reports Stuff NZ.
Friend and manager John Stainton said the accident happened after bad weather halted filming for the new documentary series.
During the break, Irwin had been shooting footage for his daughter Bindi's upcoming TV series, Mr Stainton said.
"He said 'I might just go off and shoot some segments for Bindi's show, just stuff on the reef and little animals'.
"I just said fine, anything that would keep him moving and keep his adrenalin going.
"The next thing I heard on the radio was there was a medical emergency, the little dinghy he was in was bringing him back with the crew.
"Everyone tried absolutely tirelessly to revive him to keep him alive, we cut dinghies loose and made it post haste to Low Isle where we knew the chopper would be able to get in, but I think it's possible he probably died at 11am."
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Comments
that its sad to see him go!
CRIKEY
LUV MARSDEN STUDENTS
(ANDREW.N, LARISSA, COURTNEY,SEFORAH N CHRISTINA
Posted by: MARSDEN STUDENTS | September 4, 2006 7:28 PM
my little cuzin is 11 years old and when i told his that his life lond hero had died he layed down on his bed and cryed for 2 hours. his goal in life was to travel to astilia and meet steve.
Posted by: garrett | September 4, 2006 7:49 PM
Steve Irwin is my childhood hero. I watched every showing of croc files there was. And even as a grew older i still watched croc diarys when ever i had a chance. Everything i know about wild life, snakes, crocs, fish, birds, Etc. I learnd from Steve. I think he died doing what he loved if it helps, but idont think it dose. All i can really say is...
Rest In Peice My childhood hero, the greatest Man, Myth, and legond to ever walk the earth.
Posted by: Mark reardon | September 4, 2006 8:09 PM
as a kid i use to watch his show he was the bravest man i have ever seen and he inspired to to take more risks with things so he will be missed greatly
Posted by: Tyler Reeder | September 4, 2006 8:25 PM
he was awesome!!!!!! we loved 2 watch his shows. we think he didnt deserve to die n the stringray should be shot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! peace out steve!!
we <3 u
Posted by: TIFF N LOZZ | September 4, 2006 8:36 PM
Me and my two girls will miss Steve, he was a great inspiration to my daughter who wants to be a vet and save and help as many animals as she can. The stingray should be left alone, that is what Steve would want. Prayers to his family and to all the animals he fought so hard to help.
Posted by: Katrina Concel | September 4, 2006 9:51 PM
as a kid me and my brother would watch his shows he was a good person and he is the reason that i wont to go to school to be a zookeeper prayes to his family and to thoses who loved hem
Posted by: justin | September 4, 2006 10:04 PM
Im so sorry I truly was a fan myself watching animal planet all the time after school. I thought it was already a tradedy watching him and his dog in the emergency room when his dog died he still stayed right next to her. she was also helping and watching steve fight crocodiles.and now, he left his wife and kids because he was stuned by a sting ray...
he was a great man, that crocodile hunter.
Posted by: Marissa correa | September 4, 2006 10:20 PM
We have lost a great humanitarian and a great man. He is my inspiration to go into the veterinary field. He is one of those great spirits that was taken all too suddenly and soon from us, but we must also remember that everything has a purpose and he left this Earth doing what he loved and thank God it was quick and painless. We also must remember that a woman has lost a husband and children a father. Lets pray for his family and for his soul to rest in peace. We, and the animals will never forget.
R.I.P. Gentle Steve Irwin.
Posted by: Diana Kovac | September 4, 2006 10:58 PM
My home page has the comics and recent news stories. I usually don't pay it much attention. But it caught my eyes this morning as I was about to check my email. I saw just one line - saying Steve Irwin had died. I never met him, but feel as if I've lost a friend. The animals of the world, especially the Crocs, have lost a very good friend today. My heart goes out to Terri and their kids, and everyone whose lives he touched. A whole lot of people he never met are crying for him today. I hope that knowing that will bring his family some small measure of comfort. Goodbye, Steve-o. You will be sadly missed.
Posted by: Nicole | September 4, 2006 11:01 PM
an amzing loss to the world, i watched him and always thght he was amazing
a true gent and a gift from god
will be missed
Posted by: jamie | September 4, 2006 11:10 PM
i wanna cry... i just wanna cry.. i will blog abt steve today... i promise..
Posted by: zra | September 4, 2006 11:30 PM
In my house I didnt watch mr. rogers or Barney, growing up I watched steve and terri irwin wrestle snakes and crocs and I learned about how beautiful those creatures really are and my love for animals runs so deep and of course he played a part in that. My cousin was just telling me about how her early memories of my family are of us watching the crocidile hunter. I believe some people are angels.. and angels dont get to stay on this earth for very long, they are here to prove a point, and i think Steve did.. so it only makes sense that he died so young doing what he loved most.
Rest in peace.
Posted by: Sara | September 5, 2006 12:03 AM
/pwnt.
Posted by: Boomshiko | September 5, 2006 2:17 AM
hey i hope that yous are ok i was shocked when i heard my inspirer had died i was just dervarstated and i cryed for 3 hours and i hope your all fine bye
Posted by: emily cornish | September 5, 2006 2:22 AM
I will miss Steve. I always wanted to meet him...
R.I.P. STEVE IRWIN :[
Posted by: Mary | September 5, 2006 2:40 AM
All around the room
the faces are all seen
as the headlin on tv
gets ready to hit the screen
the sadness fills the air
as the crikey disappears
everyone drops their heads
as you start to hear the tears
its sad to say goodbye
to one as good as him
everything in the world
now seems so dim
nobody saw it coming
as the stingray hit his chest
and he fell away from earth
as they ripped open his vest
he's up in heaven now
with all the crocodiles
but if he looks further round
he'll see even more reptiles
i'll meet him up in heaven
that i promise you
but i still wish his death
was something i could undo
Posted by: Mel | September 5, 2006 2:45 AM
Oh my Gosh
I can not believe this has happened!!
He was such a good/great bloke
May his family be strong through out this situation & may Steve Rest in Peace
Ill Miss u always and forever "in my eyes he was an idol to me "
R.I.P STEVE IRWIN xxxxxxx
LOVE YOOO xx
* starts to cry *
Posted by: Sandra | September 5, 2006 4:38 AM
Steve always inspired me, he made me feel more comfortable in taking risks, i actually didnt watch many of his shows but i knwo that he is a fant5astic man, he did not deserve to die at all, but life goes on and one day you are going to die. Anyway, steve i hope u get to read this letter, but i cried when you died because i was so upset. I hope u enjoy you rnew life, up in heaven. Bye bye
Posted by: Emma | September 5, 2006 4:53 AM
Steve Irwin was a great man in my eyes i looked up to him through my childhood rushing home after school to watch crocodile hunter it was with great sorrow when i heard of his death many i did not know that man perosnaly but in a way i felt i did as did many other hearts steve touched with big smile his unforgettable australian accent his (CRIKEY) and i feel most of all his undying love for animals many tiers have for such a great and loveing man and to all the people at australia zoo and his family that will miss him more than all of us we support you and prey for you. Rest in Peace U dont dont know me but u grabed my heart along with the worlds
Posted by: Ken | September 5, 2006 6:02 AM
God bless Steve Irwin.....what a great impact he had on us all the short time he was with us here on earth. RIP Steve, we will miss you greatly-
Posted by: Tracy | September 5, 2006 1:09 PM
Steve Irwin did have it coming if you think about it, but the thing that gets me is that after everything he's seen, everything he's faced, it was a retarded sting ray or mana-ray or watever kind of ray it was...i bet he would've been proud if it was a crocodile!
Posted by: Amber R. | September 9, 2006 7:48 PM
I will miss him let him go to the hevans aboth and may he rest in peas. love ashleigh
Posted by: ashleigh | September 24, 2006 7:02 AM
i was really apored when i heard i was really hopping that i could meet him when i moved to australia next year after cristmas. I have set my hart on being a zoo keper ever since i was 4 years old and all the hopes for terri bindi and babby bob as you grow steve was an angle sent from heaven now hes back in heavan so may you rest in peace
Posted by: ebony crist | November 4, 2006 10:06 PM