Steve Irwin, a/k/a Crocodile Hunter, was killed yesterday by a three foot long, 220 lb. stingray as he was shooting a documentary on dangerous marine creatures at Bat Reef in Queensland, Australia. In the freak acccident, Irwin was swimming above the stingray when it got spooked and slung its 8-in. barb straight into his heart. Irwin went into cardiac arrest and died shortly thereafter as he was being evacuated to receive professional medical care. Irwin, a fearless wildlife explorer, brought his joyous embrace of the most dangerous animals on the planet into the living rooms of a worldwide audience as he taught it to admire, respect, and appreciate God's fearsome fauna. The 44-year-old star of numerous documentaries and the owner of Australia Zoo, a Queensland reptile park left a beautiful wife, an 8 y.o. daughter and 2 y.o. son. He will be truly missed by his many fans young and old.
Cf. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20349888-2,00.html.
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James, we've been saddened by his death, too. It's strange, but we feel like we lost a close friend. Like you said, he will be missed.
J, I think it noteworthy that Australia is considering giving Steve Irwin a state funeral. Prime Minister John Howard interrupted Parliament today to laud him: Howard eulogized, "He was a genuine, one-off, remarkable Australian individual, and I am distressed at his death. He added, "We mourn his loss, we're devastated by the tragic circumstances in which he has been taken from us, and we send our love and prayers to his grieving family." Mercurial film star and fellow Aussie Russell Crowe said,
He was the Australian we all aspire to be. He touched my heart. I believe in him. I'll miss him.
A fitting tribute to a very special mate.
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