Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 1:10 pm Post subject: Steve Irwin
Stingray Kills 'Crocodile Hunter'
Steve Irwin Dies While Filming in Australia
AP and Reuters, AOL Wire Services
CAIRNS, Australia (Sept. 5) -- Steve Irwin, the hugely popular Australian television personality and conservationist known as the "Crocodile Hunter," was killed Monday by a stingray while filming off the Great Barrier Reef. He was 44.
Irwin was at Batt Reef, off the remote coast of northeastern Queensland state, shooting a segment for a series called "Ocean's Deadliest" when he swam too close to one of the animals, which have a poisonous barb on their tails, his friend and colleague John Stainton said.
"He came on top of the stingray and the stingray's barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his heart," said Stainton, who was on board Irwin's boat at the time.
Crew members aboard the boat, Croc One, called emergency services in the nearest city, Cairns, and administered CPR as they rushed the boat to nearby Low Isle to meet a rescue helicopter. Medical staff pronounced Irwin dead when they arrived a short time later, Stainton said, adding that he probably died instantly.
"It became clear fairly soon that he had non-survivable injuries," Dr. Ed O'Loughlin, who treated Irwin, told Australian television. "He had a penetrating injury to the left front of his chest. He had lost his pulse and wasn't breathing."
Irwin was famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchword "Crikey!" in his television program "Crocodile Hunter." First broadcast in Australia in 1992, the program was picked up by the Discovery network, catapulting Irwin to international celebrity.
He rode his image into a feature film, 2002's "The Crocodile Hunters: Collision Course" and developed the wildlife park that his parents opened, Australia Zoo, into a major tourist attraction.
"The world has lost a great wildlife icon, a passionate conservationist and one of the proudest dads on the planet," Stainton told reporters in Cairns. "He died doing what he loved best and left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind. He would have said, 'Crocs Rule!'"
Prime Minister John Howard, who hand-picked Irwin to attend a gala barbecue to honor President Bush when he visited in 2003, said he was "shocked and distressed at Steve Irwin's sudden, untimely and freakish death."
"It's a huge loss to Australia," Howard told reporters. "He was a wonderful character. He was a passionate environmentalist. He brought joy and entertainment and excitement to millions of people."
Irwin, who made a trademark of hovering dangerously close to untethered crocodiles and leaping on their backs, spoke in rapid-fire bursts with a thick Australian accent and was almost never seen without his uniform of khaki shorts and shirt and heavy boots.
Wild animal expert Jack Hanna, who frequently appears on TV with his subjects, offered praise for Irwin.
"Steve was one of these guys, we thought of him as invincible," Hanna, director emeritus of the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo and Aquarium, told ABC's "Good Morning America" Monday.
"The guy was incredible. His knowledge was incredible," Hanna said. "Some people that are doing this stuff are actors and that type of thing, but Steve was truly a zoologist, so to speak, a person who knew what he was doing. Yes, he did things a lot of people wouldn't do. I think he knew what he was doing."
Irwin's ebullience was infectious and Australian officials sought him out for photo opportunities and to promote Australia internationally.
His public image was dented, however, in 2004 when he caused an uproar by holding his infant son in one arm while feeding large crocodiles inside a zoo pen. Irwin claimed at the time there was no danger to the child, and authorities declined to charge Irwin with violating safety regulations.
Later that year, he was accused of getting too close to penguins, a seal and humpback whales in Antarctica while making a documentary. Irwin denied any wrongdoing, and an Australian Environment Department investigation recommended no action be taken against him.
Stingrays have a serrated, toxin-loaded barb, or spine, on the top of their tail. The barb, which can be up to 10 inches long, flexes if a ray is frightened. Stings usually occur to people when they step on or swim too close to a ray and can be excruciatingly painful but are rarely fatal, said University of Queensland marine neuroscientist Shaun Collin.
Collin said he suspected Irwin died because the barb pierced under his ribcage and directly into his heart.
"It was extraordinarily bad luck. It's not easy to get spined by a stingray and to be killed by one is very rare," Collin said.
News of Irwin's death spread quickly, and tributes flowed from all quarters of society.
At Australia Zoo at Beerwah, south Queensland, floral tributes were dropped at the entrance, where a huge fake crocodile gapes. Drivers honked their horns as they passed.
"Steve, from all God's creatures, thank you. Rest in peace," was written on a card with a bouquet of native flowers.
"We're all very shocked. I don't know what the zoo will do without him. He's done so much for us, the environment and it's a big loss," said Paula Kelly, a local resident and volunteer at the zoo, after dropping off a wreath at the gate.
Stainton said Irwin's American-born wife Terri, from Eugene, Ore., had been informed of his death, and had told their daughter Bindi Sue, 8, and son Bob, who will turn 3 in December.
The couple met when she went on vacation in Australia in 1991 and visited Irwin's Australia Zoo; they were married six months later. Sometimes referred to as the "Crocodile Huntress," she costarred on her husband's television show and in his 2002 movie. _________________
That is so sad. I remember watching his programme and thinking "this dude is crazy", it seemed he was always so sure of himself and knew what he was doing. But I must agree with Ray Mears (the British wildness expert) that "some things in nature should be left alone".
The only consolation is that he died doing something he loved. My thoughts are with his wife and their children.
Killed by a stingray--I wonder if he knew of the dangers?--he must of
That whole scene with the baby put me off so I can say I did not Steve that much--but I think he deserved better _________________ Asia Expats Forum Expat Friends Dating
Killed by a stingray--I wonder if he knew of the dangers?--he must of
From what I read (and some people in the US told me) on some sites, he didnt know he was clambering on to the thing, since it had camoflaged (sp?? It's early yet ) itself perfectly.
Mike wrote:
That whole scene with the baby put me off so I can say I did not Steve that much--but I think he deserved better
Well, the guy was a total nut ... only a total nut would tangle with crocs and snakes and plunge into Northern Australian waters which are renowned for their deadly denizens (crocs, sharks, jelly fish, blue octupii ...) ... So, in a sense he was sort of living on the edge as it were ...
That being said, this was clearly an accident ... And, not a nice way to go - he pulled the stinger out, and thats what killed him ultimately (pulling it out) - though of course leaving it in wouldnt have done much good either.
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:27 pm Post subject: Revenge on Nature???
Are mutilated stingrays a sign of Irwin fans' revenge?
INGRID PHILLIPS IN SYDNEY
A WEEK after Steve Irwin, the "Crocodile Hunter", was killed by a stingray barb to the heart, his fans appear have hit back with a spate of revenge attacks on the usually docile sea creatures.
At least ten stingrays have been found dead and mutilated on Australian shores, their tails hacked off in apparent acts of retribution.
But Irwin's friends said the killings would have enraged the man who dedicated his life to conservation work. "We are disgusted and disappointed that people would take this sort of action to hurt wildlife," Michael Hornby, the executive director of Irwin's conservation group, Wildlife Warriors, said. "It may be some sort of retribution, or it may be fear from certain individuals, or it just may be yet another callous act toward wildlife."
Irwin, 44, died last Monday as he shot underwater footage on the Great Barrier Reef for a TV documentary. A 3ft-wide, 200lb stingray lashed out as he snorkelled above it, piercing his heart with its barbed tail. His death was caught on camera and footage of him pulling the poisonous tail spike from his chest has been handed to the coroner investigating the accident.
His death prompted a national outpouring of grief, but some fans may have gone too far. Two stingrays were found with their tails cut off at Deception Bay, north of Brisbane, yesterday. The day before, eight were found in similar circumstances on Dundowran Beach, near the popular Queensland tourist resort of Hervey Bay.
"We do not know if these incidents are motivated by Steve Irwin's death. At the moment that is just speculation," Wayne Sumpton, a biologist with the state fisheries department, said. "We do find dead stingrays with their tails cut off from time to time. People usually do it if they are worried about getting stung by a stingray, or they just do it maliciously, but it is pretty rare."
Rick Symons, the department's general manager of animal welfare, said staff were investigating and offenders could be prosecuted under animal cruelty legislation.
It was the circumstances of Irwin's death, killed by a usually passive fish, that shocked so many fans.
Marine experts say that, while the stingray's tail spike can measure up to eight inches, it seldom attacks and fatal incidents are extremely rare. The serrated barb on the top of their tail is loaded with toxins. Usually people are struck in the leg or arm, an injury that, while painful, is not life threatening.
The flamboyant Irwin, famed for yelling "Crikey" as he wrestled with giant crocodiles or narrowly avoided the fangs of poisonous snakes, was laid to rest at his beloved Australia Zoo at the weekend in a low key ceremony attended by family and friends.
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 1:52 pm Post subject: Re: Revenge on Nature???
KoratCat wrote:
Are mutilated stingrays a sign of Irwin fans' revenge?
INGRID PHILLIPS IN SYDNEY
A WEEK after Steve Irwin, the "Crocodile Hunter", was killed by a stingray barb to the heart, his fans appear have hit back with a spate of revenge attacks on the usually docile sea creatures.
At least ten stingrays have been found dead and mutilated on Australian shores, their tails hacked off in apparent acts of retribution.
But Irwin's friends said the killings would have enraged the man who dedicated his life to conservation work. "We are disgusted and disappointed that people would take this sort of action to hurt wildlife," Michael Hornby, the executive director of Irwin's conservation group, Wildlife Warriors, said. "It may be some sort of retribution, or it may be fear from certain individuals, or it just may be yet another callous act toward wildlife."
Irwin, 44, died last Monday as he shot underwater footage on the Great Barrier Reef for a TV documentary. A 3ft-wide, 200lb stingray lashed out as he snorkelled above it, piercing his heart with its barbed tail. His death was caught on camera and footage of him pulling the poisonous tail spike from his chest has been handed to the coroner investigating the accident.
His death prompted a national outpouring of grief, but some fans may have gone too far. Two stingrays were found with their tails cut off at Deception Bay, north of Brisbane, yesterday. The day before, eight were found in similar circumstances on Dundowran Beach, near the popular Queensland tourist resort of Hervey Bay.
"We do not know if these incidents are motivated by Steve Irwin's death. At the moment that is just speculation," Wayne Sumpton, a biologist with the state fisheries department, said. "We do find dead stingrays with their tails cut off from time to time. People usually do it if they are worried about getting stung by a stingray, or they just do it maliciously, but it is pretty rare."
Rick Symons, the department's general manager of animal welfare, said staff were investigating and offenders could be prosecuted under animal cruelty legislation.
It was the circumstances of Irwin's death, killed by a usually passive fish, that shocked so many fans.
Marine experts say that, while the stingray's tail spike can measure up to eight inches, it seldom attacks and fatal incidents are extremely rare. The serrated barb on the top of their tail is loaded with toxins. Usually people are struck in the leg or arm, an injury that, while painful, is not life threatening.
The flamboyant Irwin, famed for yelling "Crikey" as he wrestled with giant crocodiles or narrowly avoided the fangs of poisonous snakes, was laid to rest at his beloved Australia Zoo at the weekend in a low key ceremony attended by family and friends.
Source: The Scotsman Sept. 13, 2006
This is just terrible, and I can't believe people are doing this.
Utterly juvenile behavior, and a GROSS disservice to Irwin and what he stood for
These so called fans would get their asses kicked by Irwin if he was around to see this crap happening ... _________________ Dongguan Expat - Your online Community!
But it t's news from yesterday, meaning it's in the archive already. You gotta register (but that's free) to read it over the link. You can also read and post comments after that, there are already 15 by now) I recommend just copying the article from this forum.
But it t's news from yesterday, meaning it's in the archive already. You gotta register (but that's free) to read it over the link. You can also read and post comments after that, there are already 15 by now) I recommend just copying the article from this forum.
Klaus
Thank you, Klaus -
I didnt have to register ... maybe I already registered a while back and the info's saved in cookies or something ...
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) itself perfectly.
