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.
) 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.


, he'd do all those madly dangerous things but nothing ever happend, now it has...........