Steve Irwin dead

[Binky]

:eek: :confused: :cry:

OMG I can't believe it! WHY! He was the nicest guy ever! It's really sad, but in the end I think he went the way he wanted to go...doing what he loved. It's soooo sad, I'm still in shock! http://au.news.yahoo.com/060904/23/10ebv.html

[ditchdj]

The way I see it is that, although he seemed like a real nice guy, you just don't mess with Mother Nature. I've always wondered if and when he'd cross the line and Mother Nature would hit back and hopefully he wouldn't meet an untimely end but he did. It seems senseless to me. I could never understand the thrill of people that play with deadly animals like that for the sport of it.
I stay clear away from them. Repect them and they'll respect you.

[KuzcoLlama]

Nobody deserves death. Period.

[Mr. Rager!]

The way I see it is, the guy really loved nature and animals. And sometimes he had to get you close to certain animals to make you aware of them. It's sad that he's gone though. But I don't think he "messed" with mother nature.

[ArenaBoy]

He was an animal lover and a man to respect because of that. He loved animals, I respect reptiles because of him and he died doing what he loved most. He did a lot for the animal world and he loved them, he only wanted to understand nature better and do what he could to help it.

[JuniorMintz]

Crikey. :(

How sad for his wife and babies. I hope to see Terri (and maybe eventually their children) continue on with his work.

I remember for years when I'd get home from school (even in college!), curl up in front of the fireplace, and do homework while watching Crocodile Hunter with my mom. I called her and she was just sick about it.

This sucks.

[stormtreader]

Im really sad he's dead :(

I think it had to happen sometime though, he was slightly blase about some things (working with a spitting cobra while wearing just sunglasses for example).

I think he would have probably wanted to go out that way though, as opposed to going quietly through illness or something.

RIP Steve

[SongsOfDragons]

My sympathies with his family. Though it might be just as well that he died as he lived, doing the stuff he loved best.

Though damn, that muct have been painful. The stingray barb hit him in the chest, hence the cardiac arrest; usually if you're got on the limbs you'll pull through.

And he was on my list of celebs I want to glomp/hug. He's the first to get the unfortunate postscript.

[Primer]

http://au.news.yahoo.com/060904/2/10ebw.html
is another link. This one says that the stingray actually put a hole in his heart, and the venom would not have been a factor.

[Brighid45]

A good friend of mine used to work for a big name circus as an assistant animal trainer. She met Steve several times, as he used to work with camels at one point and she was a camel trainer (among other things), and she said he was a great guy in every way. His death was an unfortunate accident, but at least he died doing something he loved. Blessings to him and to his wife Terri and his children Bindi and Bob.

[COMINATCHA]

It's so sad, I was really shocked when I heard. I was never exactly a fan of his, he irritated me, but I am still really sad about it, especially when you think about how his poor family must be feeling.

[NightAngel]

... and hopefully he wouldn't meet an untimely end but he did.

Nobody deserves death. Period.

I don't think ditchdj meant that Mr. Irwin deserved to die.

His life's calling was a very dangerous one- none of us can dispute that- just as none of us can dispute that he loved the animals.

[Strange Magic]

Beyond sad....I am a fan (still am one there is no "was" to it)

[Sunsetsky]

I'm saddened by his death. I've always wanted to meet him. His work has always fascinated me because I love animals and always wanted to work with them. I always loved his show. I just read an article in the newspaper about his death and I couldn't believe it. They said in the article that they don't think his wife even knows about it yet because she's away from home. :(

[Think Blue]

I wasn't a fan of his, but it's sad to have that happen. He did go out doing what he loved somthing most people don't get to do. RIP Steve may you continue to wrestle Crocodiles in heaven:(

[XCashier]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14663786/?GT1=8506
Collin said he suspected Irwin died because the barb pierced under his ribcage and directly into his heart.
:( This is so sad. He seemed like such a decent guy, with a genuine love for animals. And his little ones, an 8-year-old girl and 3-year-old boy, will grow up without their daddy, with only videos to remember him by.

[CanadaGirl]

I seem to be the only one on the entire freaking internet not effected by his death. Probably because I've only seen his show once in my entire life and his accent is/was kind of irrtating.

[JuniorMintz]

I seem to be the only one on the entire freaking internet not effected by his death. Probably because I've only seen his show once in my entire life and his accent is/was kind of irrtating.

But you were affected enough to at least post about it, right? Because his accent is/was irritating to you, I'm guessing?

Nice.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

It's a sad day for a lot of fans. While I never watched his series reguarly, I did get to see a few episodes, as well as the movie. I guess it takes a special kind of person to be able to do what Irwin did for a living. Not everyone has the courage to get so close to the more dangerous species of the world.

He did, though. Yes, some people thought he was nuts. But you have to give the guy credit - he CARED about animals. He loved what he did and I'm sure the animals - if they could speak- appreciated him as well.

Nobody expected this. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and children. . . he's with the angels now and is probably watching over the animals on Rainbow Ridge.

Rest in Peace, Crocodile Hunter.

[Ree]

But you were affected enough to at least post about it, right?:D
Excellent point.
How can one say they haven't been affected by the untimely death of a fairly famous 44 year old man?
It's possible to not be upset by it, maybe, but the very fact that one would post about it is an indication that the death did have some effect, however minor.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Not to make light of it or anything, but was he trying to jam his thumb up the stingray's butthole? :roll: (SP reference)

Anyhow, it's sad he died, but somehow I'm not surprised. You can't predict what a wild animal is going to do when you run right up to it and start grabbing at it.

[Trishlovesdolphins]

so far from what i read, it looks like it was just a freak occurance, his friend that was with him said that the stingray felt boxed in, and stuck him. also, the poison isn't what killed him, it is VERY rare that a stingray kills a human. they said that while the poison does hurt, and can make a person sick, that what killed him was that the stinger punctured his heart. they think he died instantly.

its very sad. while i am a firm believer in some of what he did was nuts, he was a professional, and he was trying his best to educate people about animals and ways to conserve. i feel very sorry for his family. no parent should outlive their child, and no child should have to grow up without a parent.

[Seanette]

I seem to be the only one on the entire freaking internet not effected by his death. Probably because I've only seen his show once in my entire life and his accent is/was kind of irrtating.
My basic reaction was "meh". Never saw the show and don't have the utter terror of death that a lot of people do (my faith helps here). People do die, and at least this person went quickly and doing something he enjoyed. Sad for his wife and kids, but (at risk of sounding insensitive) death happens. No one is immortal, and my own life is busy enough I don't have a lot of energy left over for celebrity doings.

[appliance god]

The guy was larger than life and very passionate about what he did. love him or loathe him, he was a friend of the planet. The fact that he rubbed some people up the wrong way (particularly certain types of people!) only endeared him to many more people.

He was real, passionate, open and honest as only a perosn who cared so much about about so much could be. Sure he made me wince, groan and roll my eyes. He opened himself to much criticism...but we are all worse off without him

Here's to a person who understood where we are in the grand scheme of things. RIP Steve Irwin.

PS. I guess he's in heaven, before God, Saying "CRIKEY!, Look at the size of this fella!";)

[Ljt09863]

it is soo sad to hear he died. i just heard today, while i was at work. i always liked him because he seemed so full of life. :cry:

[Mr. Rager!]

I don't understand it.

When I see a thread that says, "RIP (Celeb name)" Or "(Celeb Name) died), and I don't like that particular celeb, I ignore the thread. Why comment on a memorial thread just to say you didn't like that particular person?

[Ree]

Why comment on a memorial thread just to say you didn't like that particular person?Excellent point, Fashion_Lad.

Obviously, the person who started this thread, and the majority of the people posting, felt saddened enough by his passing to post their thoughts.

I find the negative comments a little rude, actually, in that they trivialize what the others are feeling.

As Fashion_Lad said, if you didn't like the guy, or aren't moved by the sudden ironic death of someone who was so full of life, then why bother posting in a thread that is dedicated to that person's memory?

[lordlundar]

I didn't particularily care for him (a little to cavalier around dangerous animals for my taste) and I'm not going to shed any tears for him, but he certainly did what he loved right up to his death.

Now if you want someone I'm not fond of, it had to be the guy who stayed with the grizzlies. About six months before his death, he basically said ":censored: you, I'm living with the bears!" to his own family. And how did the bears respond to this? By eating him and his girlfriend.

One I could respect, the other I couldin't, but they both give creedence to the phrase "Live by the sword, die by the sword."

RIP Steve

[Ree]

I didn't particularily care for him (a little to cavalier around dangerous animals for my taste) and I'm not going to shed any tears for him, but he certainly did what he loved right up to his death.
I reiterate:
...if you didn't like the guy, or aren't moved by the sudden ironic death of someone who was so full of life, then why bother posting in a thread that is dedicated to that person's memory?

I'm not saying everyone should like the guy or be upset by his death, but I believe that "Don't speak ill of the dead" or, "If you don't have anything nice to say, keep it to yourself" apply here.

[dispatch]

I didn't watch the show actively, but I had respect for the man and I found him amusing. I thought it would have been a highly venomous snake, or a hippo, or a pack of komono dragons (I recall watching an interesting encounter he had with them when the parents came back to the nest and started tail-whipping him), but he is now the 18th person since 1969 to die from a stingray in austrailia.

found this today while looking around online, I think it really captures the nature of who he was and what he did

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/steve_irwin.html

[BunnyJas]

I will miss this guy. I used to enjoy watching his shows even though at times I really thought he was nuts. One thing no one can deny was his love and dedication to the wildlife and he did everything he could to educate people on it. My heart goes out to his family and I hope the media will give them some space during this difficult time.

[Crosshair]

My dad had this to say about his death, "Yea, it's sad. But when you go around poking a bear in the *ss you have to expect something bad to happen eventualy." My mom is kinda upset. At least he died doing something he loved, though I think some of the stuff he did was stupid and unnessasarily risky. He at least was interesting to watch. I wonder if the crew got it on tape. From his IMDb bio:
He tells his camera crew to always be filming. If he needs help, he will ask for it. Even if he is eaten by a shark or croc, the main thing he wants is that it be filmed. If he died, he would be sad if no one got it on tape.
So the film of it happening will probably eventualy make it to the public. The really scarry thing is that even if your heart it completly destroyed or stops beating, you have about 15 seconds or so of consciousness. (No it's not like the movies where they die instantly.) That would kinda suck, better to go instantly IMHO.

[COMINATCHA]

There has been alot of news stories on about Steve here, and i've been watching them, only now realising how much this guy did. He earnt millions of dollars and put most of it towards good causes. Nearly made me cry actually, i'm guna be a mess after I watch the T.V special that's on tonight about him.

He also helped our tourism industry so much, by spreading the word about Australia's unique animals, and how good this place is:p

They interviewed a child phsyciatrist who said that alot of children will be affected by his death, cause they looked up to him as a 'hero' and it will be a shock to them to learn that somebody so full of life could suddenly be dead.

They say that there will never be another Steve, and I reckon that's very true.

[Tejas]

many years ago i went to australia zoo - i would say about 15 years ago, before steve and terri became huge celebs - i think he had only made 2 or so tv specials at the time.

i was lucky enough to meet steve and terri at that time and get my picture taken with them. i went back to the zoo about 3 or 4 years ago and was lucky enough to get the get the picture signed by him and terri, along with an updated one.*
steve was a bit over the top, but you could never deny his love of animals, nature, his work and more importantly his wife and children.
he has been one australia's best tourism ambasadors, and will be missed.
the amount he has dome for this country may never be known, and my condolences are with his family and friends

[Cia]

Steve is my nephew's hero and my daughter likes his shows and the movie. I always thought he was a bit nuts but being nuts helps when you are working with animals that think of you as food or are poisonous. My sympathy goes out to his family and friends.

[RavenStarr]

My son is a big Steve Irwin fan. So much that he said his dream was to move to Austraila and work with him.

I'm still in shock that he died. I guess it's just hard to believe he's not here with us anymore.:(

[lordlundar]

I reiterate:


I'm not saying everyone should like the guy or be upset by his death, but I believe that "Don't speak ill of the dead" or, "If you don't have anything nice to say, keep it to yourself" apply here.

Who's speaking ill of him? Like I said, I may not be bawling my eyes out for him, but I do respect him. He lived how he wanted to, and died the way he wanted to.

Sorry if there was any mis-wording on my part.

[NightAngel]

I like Steve quite alot. I didn't realize how much until last night when I was telling someone at work what I'd read about the incident and I got a little choked up.


They interviewed a child phsyciatrist who said that alot of children will be affected by his death, cause they looked up to him as a 'hero' and it will be a shock to them to learn that somebody so full of life could suddenly be dead.


My oldest son loves Steve also. I feel fortunate that he is a teen and understands things a bit better than some of the younger children will. Although, if this had happened a few years ago I can imagine trying to explain to him that one of his favorite tv people had died.

My deepest sympathies to his family.
May you rest easy Croc Hunter- we miss you. :(

[Phoenix79]

I just wanted to add my condolences to the thread.

Steve was a larger than life guy, and like others have said, he went out like he would have wanted to . . . doing what he loves. I just feel badly for his kids, and all those kids that look up to him . . . sad stuff.

RIP Steve!!

Phoenix

[SteverinoNY]

I wasn't going to comment as I only watched his show once or twice and thought he was totally crazy, but seeing all the nice words people wrote about Steve Irwin made me re-think what people thought of him. He did have a genuine care for animals and although reckless (IMHO), did respect them and knew what they could do to him. He seems like a person who didn't fear death, but rather relished life to the point where he was able to do what he loved, despite the risks.

I feel sorry for his family as the two little ones will grow up with out such an outstanding man as their father and his wife will be without the man she married and built the family with.

We'll miss ya Crocodile Hunter...here's one more "Crikey"

[Myra]

Husband and I have always enjoyed nature shows, and we especially enjoyed Steve Irwin's "Croc Diaries" about his day-to-day goings on at the zoo he and Terri run. We also watched a special about him trying to find and track the biggest crocodile ever. It was just amazing to me how he cared about all these animals, and worked so passionately to make sure everyone knew about them and their situation. Someone emailed me this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE2hy7OAlMk) on YouTube of him mourning the loss of a crocodile in his zoo. It was just touching to me that he felt that strongly for the poor guy.

Yes, his antics were a little nutty sometimes, and you found yourself chuckling at Crocodile Hunter jokes, but in the end you realized, this guy was vital to the animal world. He did a lot of good work.

My sympathies go out to his family, Terri and the kids, and his friends. Rest in peace, big man.

[ditchdj]

Someone from my hometown once got nailed by a stingray like he did, except she got it in the hand.

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=5364421

[One-Fang]

His show was never to my taste, but what I've heard is that he spent almost all of the income on land in Australia to dedicate to conservation causes. I know he lived humbly, and was humbled by the attention he got in Hollywood by stars there. He was "a real Aussie bloke" who never let the fame get to him. All that is why I liked him, despite not liking the show. This is a great loss.

His work was important and good. It would be a shame if it were not continued by his family or some trust or something now.

I feel for his poor wife and kids. Losing someone suddenly is not easy. At least with an illness or even an accident (and dying say, three days later), you have some time to come to grips with what's happening. But to suddenly be told "he's already gone". ... Wow.

The prophetic words about filming his eventual death ... wow again. If the wife permits, it'll go public and it'll be sensational. As tasteless as it is and as much as we are disgusted by each other, we all want to see gore happen live on TV. (Generalising the population, please feel free to exclude yourself from that generalisation).

As others have said, at least he died doing what he loved. Mr Fang has a dangerous hobby and I sometimes fear I'll lose him, but I have to step back from that voice inside that says "Tell him not to do this!!!" and let him live how he wants, including dying that way, if that should be.