SYDNEY, Australia - Steve Irwin, the quirky Australian naturalist who won worldwide acclaim, has died in a marine accident off Australia’s northeast coast, local media reported on Monday.
Queensland state government sources quoted by Australian Associated Press (AAP) said Irwin, 44, whose television show “The Crocodile Hunter” won international acclaim and popularized the phrase “Crikey”, was believed to have been killed by a stingray barb that pierced his chest.
He was filming an underwater documentary off Port Douglas when the accident occurred, the report said.
Sky Television also reported that Irwin had been stung by a sting ray.
Australian emergency officials could not immediately confirm the reports.
Irwin won a global following for his daredevil antics but also triggered outrage in 2004 by holding his then one-month-old baby while feeding a snapping crocodile at his Australian zoo.
Msnbc
Updated On: 9/4/06 at 12:52 AM
Crikey! That's terrible. His poor children..
Eek!
I was watching his show last week, and I remember saying that I had no idea how he managed to still be alive, with all of the ridiculous stuff he did.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/16/05
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20349534-952,00.html
Oh my!
That's so sad. I was always surprised at the lengths he'd go to show how animals react. I'd even watch his show from time to time. That's certainly something I never saw coming (even though he's done a lot of risky things).
When I clicked on this thread, I almost though it was going to be some other crocodile hunter, not THE Crocodile Hunter.
That's so sad...
I'm so shocked to hear this. My heart goes out to his whole family. I'm so sad to hear this.
Wow. I definitely did not expect this. Even though I would never do any of the things he did in his career, he always seemed to be a friendly and interesting person. This is so sad and surprising.
This is so sad! I liked him.
are you serious????? omg!
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
Usually gothampc likes to make the celebrity death announcements.
That's so sad. I feel bad for his family.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/12/05
Oh My!!
I used to watch him so often!
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/31/06
At first I thought this thread was a joke...
That's so sad, I never expected him to die no matter how many crazy things he did.
On IMDb, people are actually making jokes about his passing. It's disgusting.
And that's why no one with half a braincell should read the IMBD boards.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/05
Wow.
That is so sad.
My heart goes out to his family
he was my favorite! I loved to watch him on Animal Planet. I didn't even know the man and i am so sad!
my prayers are with his family
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/31/06
"And that's why no one with half a braincell should read the IMBD boards."
Hey, I originally found out about BWW from the IMDB boards!
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/05
Justchillin- Which thread on imdb?
EDIT: His wife doesn't know yet! She's trekking a mountain in Tasmania, how sad.
Updated On: 9/4/06 at 01:39 AM
When me and my friends were at "Regis and Kelly" two summers ago, he was a guest on the show.
When we wer ein Kellys dressing room he said, "excuse me loves" as he was bringing a baby 'roo into see Kelly's son and the production staffs children.
This is awful.
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/31/06
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/10/05
Well, it's not a shocker. If you spend your life tempting nature by doing dangerous things, it's just a matter of time before you get bitten or chomped. Look at that guy who liked to live with the bears. He thought the bears were his friends and then they had him for dinner.
This is really sad. Poor guy, poor wife, poor children.
Anyone who thinks that this is funny is seriously messed up.
His wife doesn't even know yet? That is tragic.
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