"The Crocodile Hunter" Killed in Marine Accident

[ethics]

Nothing more on CNN right not except just that. I figure by the time you all wake up in the AM, you will have more details.

Sucks. :(

[Andy]

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

[ditch]

A stingray barb through his chest did it, while he was swimming off Cairns on the Queensland coast.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20349541-5001021,00.html

[Piobaireachd]

Might need to merge the threads...

[ditch]

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

Yes indeed. :)

[Domh]

This saddens me more deeply than I could ever possibly express. There are tears here this morning at my house. This is a huge loss.

Irwin was a living legend and hero, one of the greatest conservationists and naturalists to ever live, and had perhaps the biggest BALLS of any man alive.

His work and name should go down in history with the likes of Muir and Thoreau.

Bless you Steve, and thank you for what you have done for the world, its peoples... but most importantly thank you for being a champion and teacher for The Great Mother.

:cry:

[ethics]

Domh, a word of advice, stay away from blogs. I can't believe the venom, the ignorance, of some asses I've read this morning.


(I won't mention WoW's general channels)

[Andy]

(I won't mention WoW's general channels)

I myself am still trying to figure out what he had to do with WoW.. if anything at all, other than he's was an Aussie.

[ethics]

Ask LFG group. Too many damn kids that weren't disciplined.

[Andy]

Here's the really sucky part I read today..

His wife might not even know yet. (http://wizbangblog.com/2006/09/04/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-was-killed.php)
It is believed Mr Irwin's American-born wife Terri is trekking on Cradle Mountain in Tasmania and is yet to be told of her husband's death.
That's gotta either really hurt or be a testament to him that the whole world knows about it before his wife can be tracked down and told.

[Sierra Mike]

Terrible accident! :(

SM

[Violet1966]

I was very upset this morning when I woke to hear this news. Very sad :(

Me and the husband and kids loved the guy.

[ditch]

A nice bloke with a young family. What a freakish way to go.

[Swamp Fox]

He put on a good show - what a shame. :thumdown:

[MNeedham73]

Always enjoyed watching his shows, even if he was a bit goofy sometimes.

He died doing what he loved though.

[Coot]

This pains me in ways I'm sure I've not yet explored. Suffice to say that this crusty old hard cored bastard has shed real tears. :cry:

[cmhbob]

Reports today say the whole thing was on videotape. I hope it never shows up on YouTube or Google.

The cameraman said Irwin pulled the barb out, and collapsed almost immediately. I wonder what his survival chances would have been if he had left it there while they transported him.

[MNeedham73]

The police confiscated the video, I believe. Not that that will stop it from happening.

No clue on the barb removal. Possible it was still attached to the stingray?

Browsing various articles today, I've seen that Jeff Corwin, Nigel Marvin, and Mark O'Shea (all have had shows on Animal Planet), have all expressed their condolences. Nice to see.

[Piobaireachd]

Reports today say the whole thing was on videotape. I hope it never shows up on YouTube or Google.

The cameraman said Irwin pulled the barb out, and collapsed almost immediately. I wonder what his survival chances would have been if he had left it there while they transported him.

It's a nerve toxin. I doubt there would have been anything they could have done if it was injected directly into the heart.

It probably almost immediately paralyzed the heart muscle.

[Piobaireachd]

No clue on the barb removal. Possible it was still attached to the stingray?

Doubtful, they usually snap off.

http://www.jerrylabella.com/stingray.html

[BigDeputyDog]

This pains me in ways I'm sure I've not yet explored. Suffice to say that this crusty old hard cored bastard has shed real tears. :cry:

I'm right there with you, coot... I admired the man and what he lived for....

BDD...

[SixofNine]

There was a nice televised tribute on Australian television. I've seen some videos from Google or youtube -- it took place at the zoo and Steve's wife and children were there. Segments included an emotional tribute by Russell Crowe televised live from New York. The Prime Minister was in attendance at the zoo and spoke , and 8-year-old daughter Bindi came out and gave this moving tribute to her dad.

[Domh]

...and 8-year-old daughter Bindi came out and gave this moving tribute to her dad.

The man named his daughter after his dearly beloved departed dog.

That... is an lover of nature.

:thumbsup:

[SixofNine]

Here's the first segment of that televised tribute:

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The guy who sings right after Howard's speech is John Williamson, a well-known Australian country singer. "True Blue" is slang for a loyal Australian who displays the Aussie ideals of a fair go for all and being a good mate.

[MNeedham73]

:cry:

[ditch]

I didn't realise the depth of Steve Irwin's following in the US. It's touching and obviously very sincere.:thumbsup:

[SixofNine]

I didn't realise the depth of Steve Irwin's following in the US. It's touching and obviously very sincere.:thumbsup:
His sincere enthusiasm was obvious and contagious. He loved his work, his goals were laudable, he had a great sense of humor, and our kids loved him.

[ditch]

His sincere enthusiasm was obvious and contagious. He loved his work, his goals were laudable, he had a great sense of humor, and our kids loved him.

I agree with your comments. He had the right mix and deserved his following.

[Steelermatt90]

did you hear that the people of austrailia are do distraught that they are killing and dismembering innocent sting rays hoping to kill the one that killed Steve Irwin.

i don't know about you but i do not want to touch something that killed a man unprovked.

[ethics]

Yah, we actually called those people all kinds of names when we found out about it. :)

[Coot]

did you hear that the people of austrailia are do distraught that they are killing and dismembering innocent sting rays hoping to kill the one that killed Steve Irwin.

i don't know about you but i do not want to touch something that killed a man unprovked.

Actually, that wasn't true. Fishermen who inadvertently catch stingrays will cut the barb off for their own safety in order to get the stingray off the hook. The low amount of animals that were found in this condition is indicative that it was not vengeance related, but a byproduct of normal fishing habits.

[Stiofán]

Actually, that wasn't true. Fishermen who inadvertently catch stingrays will cut the barb off for their own safety in order to get the stingray off the hook. The low amount of animals that were found in this condition is indicative that it was not vengeance related, but a byproduct of normal fishing habits.

It's and interesting theory but I don't know if that's actually been determined has it? The latest report I could find said 10 were killed, with only two having their tails cut off. http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1158357013799&call_pageid=1020420665036&col=1112188062620

[Sierra Mike]

That's true. Every time someone catches one in Corpus Christi, it's off with its tail.

SM

[Violet1966]

I missed the 20/20 interview last night and was searching you tube for the chance that it was there. Instead I found another interview done before the Walters one by an Aus. interviewer. Warning: It's very sad. God help this poor woman in dealing with this. So public and to have to heal for anyone after a loss must be hard....but in the public eye. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHb3etpiBLY

I'll never adjust. :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

If you don't want to watch the whole series of clips...here's where she speaks of how she found out. Just heartbreaking :cry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRWg2v8Vv5c

[SixofNine]

Most attempts at comedy about this have fallen flat on their faces -- way too soon. However, Norm McDonald somehow managed to pull it off on the late show, mainly because of the non-personal angle he took.

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[Coot]

That was funny and I felt a tad guilty laughing at it.

[Violet1966]

That kind of humor wasn't insulting though...it did feel weird laughing at it...but let's face it, every time we saw Irwin doing something with risk involved, we wondered if it wasn't going to happen some day. It almost seemed like it was just a matter of time before he slipped or some accident happened. My dad said he always thought it would be a snake incident. It's not like anyone wished it...but they thought the guy was just a walking time bomb because his risk really never seem to let up. The thing with his baby in hand feeding the croc...that kinda got me upset cause there was just that...well I know he knows what he's doing but "what if"? I actually blamed his wife thinking she should have known that it would be made public and she should have kept him from doing that kinda thing but then seeing that they want their children to follow in their footsteps...I can't say I think it's a good thing, but it kinda makes more sense. De-sensitization issue I guess and part of their every day life. Who are we to judge unless we're wildlife people too? It's like a child being allowed to take a trip with dad on safari, or a child with their dad who's a police officer on duty. Or a youngster going out to the barn to mill the cows. It's a risk and all but it's a bonding and learning thing.

The saddest thing is that his wife and kids couldn't say goodbye. They were so far away too. And he was just too young.

[SixofNine]

That kind of humor wasn't insulting thoughThat's exactly why I think it worked. That plus my conclusion that Irwin himself, with his sense of humor, would find that funny.

[Violet1966]

That's exactly why I think it worked. That plus my conclusion that Irwin himself, with his sense of humor, would find that funny.


I thought the same thing too.