NZFF

TELEVISION personality and environmentalist Steve Irwin has died in a marine accident in north Queensland.

The 44-year-old is believed to have been killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest, the sources said.

He was filming an underwater documentary off Port Douglas when the accident occured.

Mr Irwin's body was being flown to Cairns.

It's believed Mr Irwin's American-born wife Terri is trekking on Cradle Mountain in Tasmania and has yet to be told of her husband's death.

Mr Irwin - known worldwide as the Crocodile Hunter - is famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchcry "Crikey!".

The father of two's Crocodile Hunter program was first broadcast in 1992 and has been shown around the world on cable network Discovery.

He's also starred in movies and has developed the Australia Zoo wildlife park, north of Brisbane, which was started by his parents Bob and Lyn Irwin.

its pretty shocking news, and sad to leave a young family behind.
but to be fair, if you mess around with dangerous animals like he did, you're going to get killed

I'd hate to be with Terri when she found out. So sad.

When I heard about it at work I thought it was a sick joke. But no.



I don't know if anyone else saw CloseUp tonight (yaaaaaaay Susan Wood ) but one of the folk being interviewed said Steve was filming a programme aimed at demystifying 'rays and showing that they aren't really dangerous.



Sigh. Gotta love irony. RIP Steve.




I can almost see a Tui billboard on the way.

"Stingrays Can't Kill Ya!"

It is very sad, I always liked the Croc Hunter, he wasn't bad for an aussie.

RIP
It seems strange- hes not one of those people you think would die like that

Yeah same here its going to be strange not seeing him on TV or hearing "CRIKEY" or "Have a go at this little beauty" come from him and his poor wife may not even know hes dead yet poor family and I have to say poor aussie buggers losing a great icon.
RIP Steve "Crikey" Irwin .

A great loss.

A wonderful international 'ambassador' for Australia. Some called him "Australia's greatest export". One thing we do know is that he died almost immediately, which is quite a comfortable death compared to the maulings that some of his other creatures can give out.

Alex

Very sad news and very unfortunate given how many years he spent around dangerous animals, only to be killed by one that is rarely fatal.

A tragedy indeed. What I find interesting though is how John Howard used to not like him because he didnt want people in other countries to think that all Australians were like him (but we know of course that they are) and now hes all sad at his death.

I wonder if they're going to show "Urban Creatures" on Pulp Sport this week. IMO I think it would be kinda sad to do it but then those of you that have seen the show will know that they are by no means the most PC people in the world.

I think to a certain extent people should mourn his death but what people should be doing is celebrating all the wicked things he has done for conservation.

I must admit though, his Crocodile hunter Movie was pretty bad.

I must admit though, his Crocodile hunter Movie was pretty bad.

yeah but it was a bit of a joke movie, they wernt makeing a serios docomentry.

I never expected him to actuly die , he'd do all those madly dangerous things but nothing ever happend, now it has...........

RIP "croc hunter"