Crododile Hunter Steve Irwin has passed away

[captain_tinker]

Folks,
I just heard on the news that Steve Irwin, the "Crododile Hunter", has passed away in a freak accident with a stingray in Cairns Australia.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20349888-2,00.html



-capT

 

[Rob Babcock]

Whoa! That sucks! I really liked that guy. He was very entertaining and did so much to promote conservation. He will be missed.

 

[MACCA350]

Lost but never forgotten.
Australia has lost a Son, and the world a friend.

Condolences to Steve's wife and children, he will be deeply missed

 

[highfihoney]

Dammit man what a drag !, steve sure did have balls of steel.

 

[majorloser]

At least he went out doing the thing he loves.

Hopefully somebody can fill his shoes. He was one of the most passionate animal conservationist I've ever seen.

 

[mike c]

I cant get his accent out of my head.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Just read the news. How terrible. It's hard to believe the manner he died. What are the odds?

Choking back tears, Mr Stainton said Irwin had gone “over the top of a stingray and a stingray's barb went up and went into his chest and put a hole into his heart”.

 

[JAD2]

The way the morning shows aired there stuff it looked like they were saying, you got whats coming. They blasted the fact he let his kids near the animals and carrying his newborn son near croc during feeding, but I loved and forever will remember his replies.
You get into your car everyday and strap your kids in.
Well you dont know whom your going to cross paths with and a accident is waiting to happen at a higher rate then my kids exposure to the animals. You could also be shot by some fluke drive by bullet more often than the risk to my kids. I'm scared of people and what they can do versus any animal. Animals are more predictable than people ever will be. And when we do these choreographed stunts and they are choreographed, there are up to 6 more professional animal people around to keep the scene within bounds and camera anlges are done so to make it closer than we actually are. I feel safer holding my kids near a croc than driving across town!!!

 

[sploo]

With apologies to Steve, you'll be missed buddy...

(for those that are confused: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/anderson/stingray/)

 

[Wafflesomd]

Well, this is just kinda a bummer.

Put a drag on my whole day.

 

[shokhead]

The way the morning shows aired there stuff it looked like they were saying, you got whats coming. They blasted the fact he let his kids near the animals and carrying his newborn son near croc during feeding, but I loved and forever will remember his replies.
You get into your car everyday and strap your kids in.
Well you dont know whom your going to cross paths with and a accident is waiting to happen at a higher rate then my kids exposure to the animals. You could also be shot by some fluke drive by bullet more often than the risk to my kids. I'm scared of people and what they can do versus any animal. Animals are more predictable than people ever will be. And when we do these choreographed stunts and they are choreographed, there are up to 6 more professional animal people around to keep the scene within bounds and camera anlges are done so to make it closer than we actually are. I feel safer holding my kids near a croc than driving across town!!!

Animals are more predictable?

 

[Tomorrow]

This is a sad loss. Irwin was a great spokesman for conservation and he taught people everywhere the joys of nature.

 

[Audioholics]

This really took me by surprise. I absolutely loved him and his family and what they were doing. This is such a shock and a real downer. Everyone I think expected some kind of more predictable end (if any) but to see it happen in such an unpredictable manner is really what catches you off guard.

 

[Sheep]

In that article, it said some sting ray spines can reach 30cm (1 foot)! Add to that they are laced with poison, and you have one animal that I will keep my distance from.

As for a replacement, he's already out there.

His show is called Killer Instinct, and he has to be the most professional, risk-taking animal explorer I have ever seen.

His name is Rob Bredl, and everywhere he goes, he walks bare foot.

http://www.barefootbushman.com/PBredl.htm

If anyone replaces Steve, it's him.

SheepStar

 

[markw]

Crikey! That sucks.

I wonder what kind of stingray it was? We see and swim among them all the time in the Caribbean and they never seemed anything like aggressive. Heck, we hand feed 'em.

 

[pzaur]

RIP, Steve.

It wasn't necessarily that a stingray stung him as much as the stinger pierced his heart. A truly freak happening.

-pat

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

I wonder what kind of stingray it was? We see and swim among them all the time in the Caribbean and they never seemed anything like aggressive. Heck, we hand feed 'em.

We actually fed them in the Grand Cayman Islands. They get quite large. I bet a few were 5' wide. They were as gentle as kittens and would eat out of your hands.

http://www.stingraycitytrips.com/photo_album/index.shtml

Here's some video on the news in Australia:

http://media.theage.com.au/?source=int21582r&ie=0&rid=21594&player=wm6&rate=62&sy=age&category=&flash=0&t=0FSKI5

 

[JAD2]

Animals are more predictable?

Well he said it not me, but I do understand where he was going with it.

Animals are instinctive, they have trends and traits and pretty much for the majority stay within those bonds. Mean will be mean, nice will be nice and all protect their young etc.
People are not like that at all. You could see 2 women at a bar, one kinda ugly and mean looking and the other very nice looking and calm. The mean looking ugly one at the end of the nite would have curled your toes and the nice looking calm one would give you aids causes she's now hates men, but you thought the mean ugly one would have done that. Bad example I guess, but you get the drift.

As to the stingray, one of his diver friends said more than likely the ray was riled and doesnt know the difference. Stated Tiger sharks may have invaded the area and left before Steve went in and out of instinct hit with the barb as a warning not knowing the difference between man and animal.He said its not a stingrays nature unless he was pre provoked!

 

[billy p]

Nothing more to add

but I did a quick serach? Found out tonight on discovery channel's animal planet they will air a special on celebrating Steves life 7pm-et & 8pm-pt. I for one will be watching.

 

[masak_aer]

He will be missed..I and my family love him. Actually, we watched a lot of his shows and absolutely admire his dedication to nature conservation. This is a real bummer.