Steve Irwin

THE fatal stingray attack on Steve Irwin may have occurred because the animal was startled or frightened, an expert said today.

Victoria Brims, a marine life expert from Oceanworld in Sydney, said the stingray that killed Irwin was most likely provoked.

"I am aware he was filming a documentary and his documentaries are usually very hands on. I can only assume that he had some kind of hands on or close contact with the animal who like us when we get afraid defended itself," Ms Brims said.

Brims also said that for a sting to result in death the person involved had to be stung close to the heart and also have a reaction to the sting.

"For the most part people get stung on the foot when they accidentally tread on a ray and this can be no worse than a bacterial infection," Ms Brims said.

"Their barbs are very strong and release poison if touched. It must have got him right near the heart but the barb would not have gone through his chest."
 
Very sad news, whilst many people thought the man was an idiot for some of his stunts he did really care about his work. He gave all his profits from his TV series and film to Australia Zoo and other wildlife charities and lived in a modest house. His TV programmes were always amusing and fairly informative at the same time.

He'll be sadly missed by many.
 
Indeed he was trudij....

Steve-holding-croc.jpg
 
I'm saddened by this, because he really made wildlife fascinating and FUN for kids, especially, and above all, tried so hard to take away the 'the only good croc is a dead croc' opinion of so many people. When he took away, live, a croc which had been munching on the villagers of a tiny place in the middle of nowhere, they were so delighted that they could return to their river in safety. Steve's crew flew the huge beastie too many miles away for it to return and safely parked it where it would only dine on normal wildlife. Everyone was happy, and the animal lived. In the old days, it would've been despatched with a high-powered rifle and no lessons about animal-wrangling would have been learned.

I can't believe we won't be treated to any more of his boyishly-enthusiastic and yet informative documentaries. And as for his family - leaves a wee baby of just two, I think. RIP Steve, and thanks for the great shows.
 
Its a very sad day for all Australians at the moment, as this man genuinely put Australian conservation on the map.

The news came through at around 1pm AEST, and was plastered on every tv channel, as BREAKING NEWS, on every website, and all phones were ringing throughout.

I cannot begin to imagine the pain that the two children, Bindi and Bob are going through, and especially his devoted partner, Terri. The way they met was seriously a script out of a nature movie, meeting along the fence line at Australia Zoo, with her in the crowd, him holding a croc, and love at first sight.

If there is any light that can be seen over this man's horrible death, it would be that he died doing what he loved, working with animals.

A wildlife warrior he was and always will be, and what many of us downunder consider as arguably Australia's greatest export abroad.

May he RIP! And what a true champion he was.
 
It sounds like it was a freak accident. I'd agree that he did seem bit of a lunatic but amusing at the same time - and what a terrible shame that the kids lost their Dad so young.
 
Indeed, had a great day out at Australia Zoo when I was tourin around Oz although sadly he wasn't there. Sure, the whole joke was that the intention was to go there to give him a smack but then we are a cynical world that sometimes do not know how to cope with people that always seem so enthusiastic. Rest in piece Stevo
 
I was quite taken aback when I heard the news on the radio this morning. I seldom watched his programmes the whole way through but there was no doubting their appeal. He captivated a generation in the same way that Jacques Cousteau captivated mine but for Cousteau's calming narrative he substituted energy and effervescence.

He seemed very aware of his environment and I'm pretty sure the risks he took were probably more calculated and safe than were made to appear but it still made great telly.

44 is all too young and I feel for his wife and kids that he should die ironically in such relatively safe surroundings and that the stingray just happened to strike him on the chest. Anywhere else and he'd probably have been OK.
 
His presenting style was certainly different except for his one M Jacksonesqe stunt when he held his very young son in his arms whilst holding a croc at bay.

He was a keen conservationist so he will be missed.
 
I have to admit to turning Steve's programmes off when they came on - but a truly regrettable death for a young father and husband.
 
Back
Top