Crocodile Hunter Killed by Stingray

2020hindsight · 4 September 2006

the man was so invincible – like some foolhardy god
and few of us would dare to make the footprints that he trod
like Crocodile Dundee my friend devoid of script or spin,
cos charging bogs was what he did, and said to life “bog in”.
and courage even senseless has the power to hypnotise
and if he ever felt fear , then I sure would empathise
so crazy so ironic that he had to go this way
with his luck so cruelly cronic, - this chance meeting with this ray.

dj_420 · 4 September 2006

Great Australian,
had a fantastic show, steve did a huge amount for raising awareness of nature and conservation efforts etc.

i think all australians will feel a loss as we have lost a great aussie "icon" someone who was recognised internationally for his comedy, good nature and overall infectious enthusiasm for wildlife and his efforts to preserve it.

2020hindsight · 4 September 2006

Channel 2 quick - "Enough Rope"

bunyip · 4 September 2006

Novski said:
Don't mean to overshadow the trajedy that has occurred at all,... but just mention the danger of stingrays at this moment, as most people seem to be totally unaware of how lethal they are as i was.

I was stung by one in Vanuatu last year in my ankle while just walking in waist high water. I didn't see it because of darker coloured sand, weeds and shells and acidentally stepped on its wing it seems, so it struck me around the ankle with its barb under the tail. It felt like a slap, and suddenly, the pain was excruciating. Their venom targets the nervous system and has a necrotic effect. It's so painful because the nervous system is how we feel pain, so what does the venom do.. it goes straight to the nerves.

You can understand, it's how it protects itself from its dangerous prey in the sea. The morphine helped. Couldn't walk for about 2 weeks and went through a range of symptoms for a 2 months.

It shouldn't really be called a sting because the barb goes in like a knife. I think it's misleading when it's called a sting. I can't believe they show them on travel shows with people walking around them. If you acidentally trod on it or if it senses it's in danger it could strike.

I have since heard of stingray stories and one other actually who died from a sting in the chest. It sends the nervous system haywirer basically and i don't think it has to hit the heart to kill you. If it ruins the nerve funtion around the heart and the heart can't beat rythmically, it's over.

I didn't research it that much but i did some on the internet after my episode. I'm paranoid now if the water isn't clear and i can't see through it.

Condolences to the Family.

Novski

You were damned lucky the stingray didn't put you down for the full count, like happened to crazy Steve. I knew they could inflict a nasty wound but didn't realise they were venomous.

I've been expecting Steve to come to an unpleasant end for some time, but I never expected the famed croc hunter to get hunted down by a stingray of all things.
I thought he might go out in a blaze of glory, dragged into the water by a 20 foot croc and yelling "CRIKEY" as the croc rolled him over and over and finally drowned him.
He wasn't my favourite bloke but I really do feel sorry for him and in particular those close to him.

Over the years I've had a few close calls myself when I inadvertently got up close and personal with dangerous animals like wild pigs and deadly snakes.
It sure does get the old adrenalin flowing. Maybe that's why Steve loved doing it.

Bunyip

Fugazi · 4 September 2006

2020hindsight said:
Channel 2 quick - "Enough Rope"

What a classic. "Dinner with Clinton? I was busy that day!" He really was an entertainer on top of everything else.

Steve Irwin's programs were one in a long list of things that made me choose Queensland over Florida when I decided I wasn't going to bring my family up in London.

Whether you loved him or he drove you crazy (I personally thought he was hysterical), he got the wonder & beauty of Australia (& especially QLD) out to the rest of the world in the biggest way.

Bobby · 4 September 2006

Goodbye Steve,

Wish I could turn back time for you, just don't know how.

Gee you will be missed, but never forgotten.

Bob.

websman · 4 September 2006

Steve Irwin was a legend here in America. God bless you Steve...

2020hindsight · 4 September 2006

websman said:
Steve Irwin was a legend here in America. God bless you Steve...

Websman - keep an eye on "http://www.abc.net.au/vod/entertainment/" - this is of course the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as against your abc - go to the show "enough rope" - they will I am sure be sufficiently organised in a day or so to let you download Steve being interviewed - a repeat interview that has just gone to air. They make the point that he was bigger in USA than in AUS - he must have been a giant over there then and if he wasn't a legend b4, he sure is now.

The Barbarian Investor · 4 September 2006

Novski said:
Don't mean to overshadow the trajedy that has occurred at all,... but just mention the danger of stingrays at this moment, as most people seem to be totally unaware of how lethal they are as i was.

I was stung by one in Vanuatu last year in my ankle while just walking in waist high water. I didn't see it because of darker coloured sand, weeds and shells and acidentally stepped on its wing it seems, so it struck me around the ankle with its barb under the tail. It felt like a slap, and suddenly, the pain was excruciating. Their venom targets the nervous system and has a necrotic effect. It's so painful because the nervous system is how we feel pain, so what does the venom do.. it goes straight to the nerves.

You can understand, it's how it protects itself from its dangerous prey in the sea. The morphine helped. Couldn't walk for about 2 weeks and went through a range of symptoms for a 2 months.

It shouldn't really be called a sting because the barb goes in like a knife. I think it's misleading when it's called a sting. I can't believe they show them on travel shows with people walking around them. If you acidentally trod on it or if it senses it's in danger it could strike.

I have since heard of stingray stories and one other actually who died from a sting in the chest. It sends the nervous system haywirer basically and i don't think it has to hit the heart to kill you. If it ruins the nerve funtion around the heart and the heart can't beat rythmically, it's over.

I didn't research it that much but i did some on the internet after my episode. I'm paranoid now if the water isn't clear and i can't see through it.

Condolences to the Family.

Novski

I had a friend speared by a barb of a stingray in his calf when we were younger and out spearfishing; I always thought that the barb (which is like a jaggered spear) can cause infection and the barbs contain a poison that like many salt water animals (bull routers etc) that is protein based (hot water helps break it down), we used hot coffee etc..

When I heard this story, from a guy at work who is a joker, I didn't believe it, later I hear the radio.. Wow, STILL couldn't believe it, I thought a Crock or a Snake would eventually get him..You can but feel for his wife and young family.

tarnor · 5 September 2006

I didn't really like the guy much either...

Some of the shows were the most stupid and obvious setups.. thought he was a bit of an embarrassment to us.. But he did an awful lot for our tourism and was a great entertainer for kids and stuff.. so who knows.. Terrible loss for the young family a real tragedy..

I think he wouldn't have minded going out that way, although obviously preferably at a later date when he wasn't leaving a young family behind.

Can imagine his response would have been something like "crikey only a sting ray" .

doctorj · 5 September 2006

I too originally thought it to be a joke after receiving news of it via email from the office prankster. I wasn't his biggest fan (you can only be asked to say "crickey" by American backpackers so often) but he certainly had a big heart, loved his family, country and animals. He lived his dream and that's something for us all to admire and aspire to.

The legacy of an unexpected death is the reminder to us all to live each day to its fullest and to have no regrets.

Lyehopper · 5 September 2006

Tragic!.... I found him very intertaining. He was a good guy and a devoted family man. I feel very badly for his wife and kids.

I doubt he even thought he was in any real danger. I've seen divers swim with stingrays on TV before.... they aren't usually agressive. That thing drove it's tail spike under his rib cage and punctured his heart, he died quickly.... I'll bet he's the only human to ever be killed this particular way by a stingray.

dubiousinfo · 5 September 2006

Lyehopper said:
That thing drove it's tail spike under his rib cage and punctured his heart, he died quickly.... I'll bet he's the only human to ever be killed this particular way by a stingray.

I remember reading some years ago of a fisherman who hooked one on his line & when he pulled one into the boat, the ray got him in the chest also & killed him.

Mouse · 5 September 2006

Hi,

This is really sad. My heart goes out to his family. As a wildlife carer in Queensland I didn't actually know Steve personally but a lot of my friends did. One of the things that came up in conversation with them last night was that one of Steves goals was to re-vegetate Australia, so instead of sending flowers we are each going to plant a native tree to show how much we appreciate what he did.

Watching Andrew Dentons show last night I can't help thinking... if there really is a God, Steve is probably already in his ear about what has to be done to help the environment. Can you imagine Steve Irwin appearing at the Pearly Gates? Look out God, here he comes!

cheers
Mouse

noirua · 5 September 2006

tarnor said:
I didn't really like the guy much either...

Some of the shows were the most stupid and obvious setups.. thought he was a bit of an embarrassment to us.. .

How wrong you are tarnor, how wrong you are!

2020hindsight · 5 September 2006

Mouse said:
...... if there really is a God, Steve is probably already in his ear about what has to be done to help the environment....

How right you are mouse how right you are

tarnor · 5 September 2006

well i was definately wrong about him being an embarrassment the news is being reported all over the world.. pretty amazing response..

but the shows were just rediculous... ie walking around in the desert trying to find some obscure form of wildlife when he happens to fall over and tumble all the way down a sand dune and just happens to roll next to the rare species he was looking for... Or another where his wife accidentally falls out of a dingy in a croc infested river after he just talks up how dangerous it would be if someone fell in.. Annoyed me because he try to come off all genuine but thats entertainment i guess..Anyway obviously the kids liked it, but i always thougth he was kinda lame.. but thats not really the issue .. very sad indeed

2020hindsight · 5 September 2006

Fugazi said:
What a classic. ..I personally thought he was hysterical

I agree - Did you like the story of his pride in his infant daughter (younger then) when she insisted on finishing her lullaby to the python - despite the fact that it had bitten her in the lip and then no the nose LOL.
What about the acres of land he has bought and given back to the native inhabitants.
What a legacy he has left to the world - what a pedigree he has given his kids. What a loss.
To say nothing of the mountains of literature and theories that will be rewritten... for instance :-
"To a snake" By Steve Irwin.
Wee sleekit cowrin timrous beastie - oooh w'as the trubel in thy breastie - I would be lathe to run and chase thee with bickrin pattel" etc

Prospector · 5 September 2006

Hm, if a snake bit my child on the lip I think maybe I would have had some medical attention. If his intention was to show his children not to be afraid of wildlife, then that is the ultimate irony, isn't it. Because it is normal for us to be afraid of it - nature's way of protecting us methinks.

I just find it ironic that his vision was to teach about about the beauty of wildlife and to respect it, yet he did some very non-conservationist things in order to get the crowds attention, and in the end it was maybe his possible lack of respect shown to wildlife that cost him his life, and his children their father.

To many he is a hero; but children dont look at their dad's as heroes for what they do, they are hero's to their kids just because they are 'Dad'.

I appreciate that he has also spent a lot of money in reclaiming land etc etc, but well, I guess I just see his death as a tragic loss to those kids and didnt need to happen.

noirua · 5 September 2006

Prospector said:
Hm, if a snake bit my child on the lip I think maybe I would have had some medical attention. If his intention was to show his children not to be afraid of wildlife, then that is the ultimate irony, isn't it. Because it is normal for us to be afraid of it - nature's way of protecting us methinks.

I just find it ironic that his vision was to teach about about the beauty of wildlife and to respect it, yet he did some very non-conservationist things in order to get the crowds attention, and in the end it was maybe his possible lack of respect shown to wildlife that cost him his life, and his children their father.

To many he is a hero; but children dont look at their dad's as heroes for what they do, they are hero's to their kids just because they are 'Dad'.

I appreciate that he has also spent a lot of money in reclaiming land etc etc, but well, I guess I just see his death as a tragic loss to those kids and didnt need to happen.

I understand that the stingray ( bull ray, about 1 metre across and weighing about 100kg ) attack was filmed, so, at some stage we may know what really happened. So far, it is known that the stingray probably felt threatened, with the cameraman in front and Steve Irwin alongside. It stopped and suddenly went into a defensive position and he was caught with no way of manouvering, as the stingray waved its spike.

Crocodile Hunter Killed by Stingray

2020hindsight

dj_420

2020hindsight

bunyip

Fugazi

Bobby

websman

Illogical Vulcan

2020hindsight

The Barbarian Investor

tarnor

doctorj

Hatchet Moderator

Lyehopper

dubiousinfo

Mouse

noirua

2020hindsight

tarnor

2020hindsight

Prospector

Not a scaredy cat anymore

noirua

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