SEPTEMBER2006

The tragic news of Steve Irwin's death while filming on the Barrier reef off NE Autralia broke earlier today - His passing is a great loss to the world-wide conservation movement

By DAVID WILLIAMS, LOUSIA HEARN and AAP
Sydney Morning Herald
05 September 2006

Television personality and environmentalist Steve Irwin has died from a stingray wound while filming off north Queensland. Irwin's friend of 20 years, Ferre De Deyne said Irwin had been struck by the stingray while filming. "The stingray just happened to be swimming around and out of the blue whacked his tail at him," he said."It is absolutely tragic. I have dived so many times with stingrays and they are usually very placid things," he said.

Known worldwide as the Crocodile Hunter,  44-year-old Irwin was famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchcry "Crikey!"Irwin had been filming a new documentary called Ocean's Deadliest with friend and manager John Stainton at Batt Reef, off Port Douglas about 11am.

"He came over the top of a stingray and the stingray's barb went up and went into his chest and put a hole into his heart," Mr Stainton said. "It's likely that he possibly died instantly when the barb hit him, and I don't think that he ... felt any pain. Irwin was pulled aboard his research vessel, Croc One, for a 30-minute dash to Low Isle, where a Queensland Rescue Helicopter had been summoned, his Australia Zoo said in a statement. The crew of the Croc One performed constant CPR during the voyage to Low Isle, but medical staff pronounced him dead about noon. "It became clear fairly soon that he had non-survivable injuries," said Dr Ed O'Loughlin, who treated Irwin at the scene. "He had a penetrating injury to the left front of his chest. "He had lost his pulse and wasn't breathing."
 
Dr O'Loughlin said it appeared Mr Irwin had suffered a "form of cardiac arrest" but a post-mortem examination would be conducted in Cairns. His American-born wife Terri was told of her husband's death while on a walking tour in Tasmania, and tonight returned to the Sunshine Coast with her two children, Bindi Sue, 8, and three-year-old son Robert Clarence, usually known as Bob, 3.

The Irwins married in 1992 - the same year Irwin made a one-off documentary, The Crocodile Hunter, which later became a world-famous TV series and movie

Stingray deaths 'quite rare'

Irwin's death was one of only a handful of known stingray deaths in Australian waters.Ross Coleman, acting director at at University of Sydney Institute of Marine Science, told smh.com.au it was "quite rare" for someone to die from contact with a stingray and he couldn't recall hearing of another incident. Stingrays were "dangerous if provoked", he said. "As a recreational diving instructor you hear of people getting injured by standing on them ... but they rarely die."

'The zoo will go on'

Irwin's wife Terri would not close down the zoo, predicted Jim Dalrymple, whose local irrigation firm helped maintain the water supplies to Irwin's Australia Zoo in Beerwah on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. The zoo is the biggest local employer with 550 staff, Mr Dalrymple said. "I don't think Terri would let it close down. She's too passionate to change Steve's wishes. But he's irreplaceable."

'Nothing would ever scare Steve'

Irwin's manager John Stainton admitted he always feared that Steve Irwin would meet his "demise" while working with the wildlife he loved. But he said although Mr Irwin got into plenty of "close shaves" with his antics involving various dangerous animals over the years, his star charge never feared death. Mr Stainton admitted he "always" feared that this day would come during their 20-year association. "You think about all the documentaries we've made and all the dangerous situations that we have been in, you always think 'Is this it, is this a day that maybe is his demise?'," he said in Cairns today.

"We've been in some pretty close shaves. "(But) nothing would ever scare Steve or would worry him. He didn't have a fear of death at all."

Discovery Channel suspends 'Crocodile Hunter'

The Discovery and Animal Planet TV networks - which produced Irwin's programs - suspended broadcasts of the Crocodile Hunter series across its networks this afternoon. "Discovery Networks International and Animal Planet International mourn the loss of Steve Irwin, the world's Crocodile Hunter, " the broadcasters said in a statement "Steve was beloved by millions of fans and animal lovers worldwide and was a true friend to Discovery Networks.

The Crocodile Hunter program was first broadcast in 1992 and has been shown around the world on cable network Discovery. Irwin came 20th last year in BRW magazine's top 50 entertainers. The magazine said the hugely popular Crocodile Hunter spent most of 2005 filming and launching his new television series, New Breed Vets, to appear on the pay-TV channel Animal Planet. In February, Irwin received an award from Tourism Australia for his contribution to tourism. Over the last 12 months, he has also expanded his Australia Zoo wildlife park on the Sunshine Coast.

Pop star Justin Timberlake last month recalled visiting the zoo on his Australian 2004 tour."He's like Dr Dolittle, for real. He knows what those crocodiles are thinking."

STEVE IRWIN SAID:

"Every cent we earn from Crocodile Hunter goes straight back into conservation. Every single cent."

"I am optimistic globally. So many scientists are working frantically on the reparation of our planet."

"I believe our biggest issue is the same biggest issue that the whole world is facing, and that's habitat destruction."

"I believe that education is all about being excited about something. Seeing passion and enthusiasm helps push an educational message."  

ANIMAL welfare organisation the RSPCA said Steve Irwin was a modern day Noah because of his conservation work.

“His loss will be felt by animal lovers not just in Australia but all over the world,” said RSPCA Qld chief executive Mark Townend. “He was a modern-day Noah and should be acknowledged as such.”

RSPCA Queensland spokesman Michael Beatty, who first worked with Steve Irwin when The Crocodile Hunter was just 15, said Mr Irwin's contribution to society would only truly be recognised in the years ahead. “He put his money where his mouth was,” Mr Beatty said. “Other people talked about it, Steve did it. “His television series inspired millions of people all over the world to not only appreciate and understand wildlife, but to become active in the conservation movement.” “Whether he was speaking to global leaders or ordinary Australians, Steve Irwin told it like it was.

“His death truly is a tragedy. Wildlife has lost its most vocal champion,” Mr Beatty said.

The thoughts of the staff from RSPCA Queensland were with Mr Irwin's wife Terri and his family, he said.

The Handstand Editor: My family members, Grandchildren who have watched countless programmes by Steve, and myself offer our deepest sympathies to his wife Terri and her children. I put this memorial on a bright page because this man did so much to elevate each child's understanding and joy in the world.RIP