G'day,
Sad news, I'm afraid, IF it is true, but news is just breaking here that Steve Irwin, aka the Crocodile Hunter, has died while filming a documentary off the coast near Port Douglas in Far North Queensland. They say he was speared in the chest by a stingray. Apparently Sky News is calling it, but the Australian Broadcasting Corporation has yet to officially confirm it.

His American born wife is trekking in the island state of Tasmania, and they are having trouble contacting her.

If true, a sad end for a fascinating bloke. R.I.P.

Regards from Down Under

aussiejohn

 

 

If this is true, it is sad news indeed. The world has lost a great and passionate man.

 

Hello again,
Yes, it is true. They had to wait until they contacted his wife, Terri, before the official announcement. They have just done this. He was speared in the heart by a stingray at about 11 a.m. this morning, about four and a quarter hours ago.

A sad end to a great human being who did so much to put Australian wildlife on the world map. We will all miss him.

Regards from Down Under

aussiejohn

 

Prayers for Steve and his family. Been watching his shows for several years

 

holy crap....

I didn't know a stingray could spear someone.

Is that something that they do?
or was this a freak accident kind of thing?

 

that really sux! he had so much energy in him. i always liked watching his shows w/wildlife and travel. will miss him

 

He was an interesting individual, so it sucks that he got killed. However, not trying to sound cold but it was a matter of time before something got him. Way too close to dangerous animals. Odds will only be in your favor for a while.

 

it has to be a really freaky accident,it is not a joke but a stingray sting is in the end of it's tail,unusual to get hit in the chest.....john

 

World lost a great human being. His wife is from my state.

 

Yikes, me and a co-worker were just talking about him today! I had watched "Grizzly Man" last night, and we commenting on how lucky Irwin was that he never had an incident like Tim Treadwell did.

Man, he was a really likable guy as well.

 

Television personality and environmentalist Steve Irwin has died after being stung by a stingray while filming off north Queensland.

Known worldwide as the Crocodile Hunter, the 44-year-old was famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchcry "Crikey!''.

The Queensland Police Service issued a statement saying Mr Irwin collapsed after being stung at Batt Reef, Low Isles off Port Douglas about 11am. He had been filming a documentary.

"Steve was hit by a stingray in the chest,'' said local diving operator Steve Edmondson, whose Poseidon boats were out on the Great Barrier Reef when the accident occured.

"He probably died from a cardiac arrest from the injury,'' he said.

Police said that, after the stingray attack, Irwin's crew called for medical treatment at 11am and the Queensland Rescue Helicopter responded with a doctor and paramedic on board.

Puncture wound

Mr Irwin had a puncture wound to the left side of his chest and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said Mr Irwin's family has been advised and Irwin's body was being flown to Cairns.

It is believed his American-born wife Terri was trekking on Cradle Mountain in Tasmania when the incident happened.

Police in Tasmania say she has been informed of her husband's death.

The Irwins have two children, an eight-year-old a daughter, Bindi Sue, and a three-year-old son, Robert Clarence, usually known as Bob.

When asked if he had ever heard of anyone dying from a stingray barb Matthew Hurley, general manager of Quicksilver Group, whose company has taken tours to Low Isles for 26 years, said: "No, definitely not."

"We've never heard of or been involved with anything like that."

Ross Coleman, acting director at at University of Sydney Institute of Marine Science, told smh.com.au it was "quite rare" for someone to die from contact with a stingray and he couldn't recall hearing of another incident.

Stingrays were "dangerous if provoked", he said.

"As a recreational diving instructor you hear of people getting injured by standing on them ... but they rarely die."

May God be with him and his family at this time.

 

yes, it's true and the guy has gone same way he's been living, in an adventurous way.
he's died but i'm pretty sure plenty of people who is still breathing is more death then the guy just gone...
...but better avoid to talk about this, it's a sad iussue, it's far too offtopic and today is monday and i've got a difficult week in front of me...

 

They have a large poisonous barb on top of the tip of their tail. Its there defence to use it.

G

 

Sad day indeed. The world is going to miss him.

 

Sad indeed, he seemed to love nature and sharing it with the world.

 

The man was doing what he loved, and I feel for his family's lose. His show was informative, and entertaining. My condolences to the Corwin Family.

 

Ok, he was stung by the stingray.
I know that they can sting, hence the name.

The first post said he was "speared", I didn't think that they did that with their tail.

it is a sad loss............

 

If he was speared in the chest by a Stingray.... I guess this is the right forum. I enjoyed watching his antics and he had a real passion for his work.

 

It was reported this morning the barb pierced his heart....what a shame