Depressing news..Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin Dead

[atifsh]

oh man that is so sad , not a good news u get when u reach home after long day... i liked that guy......

[PurpleDemon]

This is sad news. He never disappointed to amaze you with his communication with the animals and nature.

We will miss him

[NightTran]

I dont know any one would tople his success, I always admired his work.

We all gona leave one day, but atleast he die when he was doing what he loves

[LT. Columbo]

very sad, nice guy on camera, even nicer in person (went with family to australia zoo a while back)

you met him? what kind of reaction over in aussiville? it's all over the news, actually right now i'm watching larry king on CNN paying a tribute. everyone who knew him said the way he was on camera was the real him, always ready to roll.

something tells me he was trying to hitch a ride, but hadn't read up on sting rays

he was a "wild life warrior". he had tons of sting ray experience, if it missed his heart he probably would have made it. he's only the second aussie to die of a sting ray. his death is all on film. i hope the Irwins take up john howards offer for a state funeral.

[Chewy]

do not swim up behind rays without your shirt of Mithril mail, it was his style,
fearless

a warrior's death

how big was the ray?

[drfsupercenter]

I hope they show that film

Anyway, sad news.

[LT. Columbo]

do not swim up behind rays without your shirt of Mithril mail, it was his style,
fearless

a warrior's death

how big was the ray?

giant sting ray, 4 feet or so in diameter...fearless was his style. no evidence it was provoked sources say. just a freak accident, odds of it had to be in the millions to die from one of these rather than a croc or snake, especially since he never carried anti-venom.

[Chewy]

startled not provoked

Dasyatids generally do not attack aggressively or even actively defend themselves. When threatened, their primary reaction is to swim away. However, when they are attacked by predators or stepped on, the barbed stinger in their tail is mechanically whipped up

[a2j3]

Its times like this that make u say "why does it always have to happen to good people". What amazed me was he had the strength to pull the stingray tail from his chest before he passed. Truly an amazing man.

[Aegmorgil]

My wife and I are both deeply saddened by his passing. We were both big fans and were planning on a trip to Australia sometime in the next few years. We both wanted to see Australia Zoo and see him in person.

Some people thought he was nuts, but I thought he was gifted and absoluted devoted to his work. He will be missed by many.

[BR7]

You could see he loved his work you could hear it in his voice and you could see it in his actions watching him around animals was like watching a kid with a no spending limit in a candy store.

[a2j3]

@Br7, I just heard if the family will allow it they will have a state side funeral 4 him.

[anonymez]

you met him? what kind of reaction over in aussiville?

got two autographs after the show; it's still all over the news, politicians all over it, just shock really

[LT. Columbo]

you're a lucky guy anonymez. i'd like to see what he built there one day, rest of the country.

[lfcrule1972]

News reports here was that his cameraman was in front of the ray and Steve Irwin was above it, the ray saw the cameraman and appeared to panic that it was blocked and then seeing Steve above whipped up its tail/barb.

As you all say a real tragedy, no matter what you thought of the guy he was someone who could entertain millions through his enthusiasm for his work and his ambition to save animals that others see as deadly.

I see from the news today that his father believes a state funeral is inappropriate as above all Steve was an ordinary guy and wouldn't have wanted all the fuss.....