Crocadile Hunter, Steve Irwin dies in a wilderness accident!

Codger_64 said:
A shame, yes, but he does get a nomnation for the Darwin award. He made his money and fame taunting wildlife, then gets killed trying to ride a stingray. Sorry, but to me this is no different than the bear guy who got himself and his girlfriend eaten. Or the magician whose "pet" tiger tore him up. Or .... well I guess you get my meaning. Marty Stauffer, Jaques Cousteau, and Marlin Perkins were able to bring us amazing footage of wildlife, but did not put themselves in the position of trying to pet the beasts. Stupid kills.:rolleyes:

Codger

OK, now flame me..I can take it!:D
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Marty caged raccons and set wolverines on them, he also pet plenty of bear cubs on his tv show.
 
Just read "The Ausrallian news" off the Drudge report and it said "it was close to the heart and he had a cardiac arrest" and at first they treated him for a wound.
1/2" probley would not make a differents though.Sad day.
 
His efforts to advance conservation and to educate the layman on how to treat animals will be sorely missed.

He truely loved animals and dedicated his life to them and that is to be admired.

I agree with Cliff in that he was a bit risky considering his station in life, father and husband, but he died doing exactly what he wanted too and there's honor in that.
 
Steve was a great bloke, and if anything he lived every day to the fullest something that i think everyone should aspire to do.
 
The stingray barb is quite long, even on small rays. But in Australia, I'm sure he's dealing with big rays that have barbs 5+ inches in length. If this is the case and the ray hit his chest and penetrated the Percardium, it's release of toxins, which is denatured by the hottest tolerable water, was released directly into the heart tissue. It probably cause cardiac arrest immediately or shortly thereafter and may have also had loss of blood into the chest cavity from the mechanical action of piercing the heart in adition to the chemical envenomation.

If either or both of the above scenarios occured, even close to a hospital, I don't think that he could have been saved. Most of the cardiac arrests that I deal with in the ER don't make it and come through the door dead already. Only a few times do we recussitate them. Even when we do bring them back, they've been O2 deprived for such a long time due to lack of cardiac activity and subsequent loss of O2 to the brain, they're just vegetables.

Too bad for him. He was truly an animal/wildlife advocate and his means of getting his message acrossed, though dramatic, were wholly suited for the viewing masses that have the "been there seem that", mentality jading them.

Cliff
 
From every report ever made about Steve, what you saw was what you got. He was the same behind the camera as he was in front of the camera. He was a true gentleman and loved by many. He wasn't full of it, he was a genuine animal conservationist and animal lover big time and was able to spread his message far better than most. He had wide experience of Australian animals. Perhaps that experience did lead to some complacency, but I suspect that what happened was just plain bad luck with a creature that hasn't been known as a man-killer. I might be wrong, but in the whole history of Australia only two people have ever been killed by a ray before this incident. Rest in Peace Steve, you will be sadly missed, you were one of a kind.
 
His death this way doesn't surprise me at all. He had to know the danger. You don't get within tails reach of a sting ray. Those Stingray barbs can be as long as 17" and have been known to penetrate boat hulls, and go clear through leg bones. If he had toned it down after finding a wife and having children he could have retired after a long and illustrous career like Marlin Perkins and others. The job is risky enough without the sensationalism and added risks like he took. Erwin played Russian Roulette one too many times with nature and the odds finally stacked up against him and he lost.

I feel for his family. His son will never even remember him at not even 3 years old yet. What a shame he didn't wake up and tone it down.

STR
 
I have to admit that watching many of his old shows on the Discovery Channel brought tears to my eyes yesterday. Personally, I think he took too many chances around potentially dangerous wildlife. But, Steve Irwin's enthusiasm was infectious. Shoulda, coulda, woulda....RIP
 
STR said:
His death this way doesn't surprise me at all. He had to know the danger. You don't get within tails reach of a sting ray. Those Stingray barbs can be as long as 17" and have been known to penetrate boat hulls, and go clear through leg bones. If he had toned it down after finding a wife and having children he could have retired after a long and illustrous career like Marlin Perkins and others. The job is risky enough without the sensationalism and added risks like he took. Erwin played Russian Roulette one too many times with nature and the odds finally stacked up against him and he lost.

I feel for his family. His son will never even remember him at not even 3 years old yet. What a shame he didn't wake up and tone it down.

STR
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I agree to a point , some animals though arent meant to be caged , he died doing what he loved.
I wouldnt get less than 3 yards and 1/2 inch plexiglass away from 99.9% of the creatures he played with , I gotta give him that.
He was funny , and educational and a total loon for doing some of the stunts he did.
As far as the kid/croc thingie.....
I saw a show , I dont remember which but the clip was old old , B&W.. anyway it was a father , I think he was balancing his son on his hand or something on top of a very very high skyscraper , the kid was loving it , and the kid turned out to be one of the most well known stunt guys , I am sort of vague on the show... I remember seeing that and thinking the guy was a nut.
 
He will be missed, there havent been many likeable spokespeople for nature, we will miss you Steve. Good on ya.
 
Very sad when I heard. I was a fan, he was a bit of a clown, but he was also funny and entertaining. And he seemed to be genuine. I feel bad for his wife and kids.
 
I love his show. Im very sorry to hear that he died and would miss him very much. Mind you im the type of the guy that never recognize any big name actors what so ever cause i dont care for them. He made it fun to learn and i did learn alot from watching his show. How many people could say that they changed kids outlook on anything what so ever. I realy think he did more then any one else. Just watch any 5 to a 60 year old who watched his show. Yes it was a show. But he understood animals better then most people out there. He is a rare person that many would try to fit into his shoes. I would love to see someone make it.
Yes he took chances. So many other people that live life. Too many of us just live day to day. Im sure he knew that he takes a chance and i seen a show where he shows what he does for back up or for an emergency. But we all have a 20\20 hind sight. My hat off to him he knew how to live and he died doing what he loved. Sorry for the long rant but i like him and respect him


Sasha
 
I don't think its quite accurate to say he died doing what he loved. He died getting stung by a stingray. He lived doing what he loved and for that you have to give him credit. Somebody famous once said a coward dies a thousand deaths but the valiant only die once, something like that. Mac
 
There will never be anyone like him. He did more for the world than any King, Queen, or President has done, or probably will ever do. I can't believe he is gone, it happended way too quickly and unexpectedly. I really feal sorry for his wife and kids, but they will always be able to be proud of what their dad and husband did (which is more than I can say about alot of people in the world today). I hope to see his kids grow-up and continue where their dad left-off. Does anyone know if he had a boy? I know he had a girl. When I die, that is one person that I would like to meet.
 
The reaction here in Australia has been;

a) Amazement at the overwhelming sorrow expressed by people overseas, especially the U.S where he was (apparently) a pretty well known guy.A

b) A sort of belated recognition of this 'ordinary bloke' doing extraordinary things.

Personally he wasn't a hero of mine, just another bloke- but then again my ultimate hero is just another bloke; the bloke next door.

Damned bad luck though; a stingray barb into the heart- what a way to go!
 
I loved the way he avoided attacks from snakes and crocodiles, he is almost like a martial arts master in his movement.

RIP Mr. Irwin, i will pray for you and your family, i hope you are with the Father in heaven.
 
I didn't always care for his theatrics on camera- too much drama for me but he was reaching out to kids as much as adults. Sometimes you have to do loud things to get peoples attention & THEN deliver your message. I keep reptiles as pets and had plenty of folks mention seeing ole Steves shows- much less aversion to scalies thanks to his efforts to educate people.
I don't know about hero but I have a ton of admiration for how he lived and his cause was pure love of nature- damned if I can criticize a man for that.
I grew up on farms and watched Mutual of Omaha plenty- all I ever saw Marlin do was talk while Stan and the natives did the work...
Bill
 
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