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7TH JAN 2009
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 I couldn’t believe it when I heard on the radio this morning that Australian Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin was killed by a stingray. The guy seems to have about 50 lives, I’m almost surprised he lived as long as he did but I was genuinely sad when I heard the grave news. That guy had balls!!!
The Australian Naturalist and well known TV personality was killed during a diving expedition after being struck in the chest by the stingray’s barb whilst filming a documentary in Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef. A stingray is a flat, triangular shaped fish usually found in tropical waters. It gets it’s name from the razor-sharp barb at the end of it’s tail which is coated in toxic venom. When the animal feels threatened it uses this as a defence mechanism.
 It’s very unusual for a stingray to attack humans as they generally keep themselves to themselves, they are not aggressive animals, however if disturbed, it’s a different story. Only one other person is known to have died in Australia due to a stingray attack and that was in 1945.
It’s likely the stingray stung out fear. It was also revealed that the venom itself wouldn’t have been enough to kill a human but the wound itself caused by the barb could measure up to 20cm long which would certainly prove fatal.
Apparently paramedics were unable to save him as they rushed to the scene and Irwin’s wife and two young children have been notified.
He was well known for his television show The Crocodile Hunter, I loved him, he had no fear!
Steve Irwin’s manager John Stainton told the media the Stingray’s barb had pierced the Aussie’s heart. He also said that Irwin came over the top of the stingray and a barb, the stingray’s barb went up and put a hole into his heart.
They managed to get Irwin’s back to the research vessel, named Croc 1 but by the time the emergency crew arrived it was too late, he was pronounced dead.
Irwin stood out in many people’s minds as a brave and possibly a little crazy character, I mean, who else would put themselves in that much danger and play around with deadly crocs!! There was one person in particular that Irwin made a lasting impression on. The Australian Prime Minister, John Howard. He said he knew Mr Irwin well and that the country had lost a “wonderful and colourful son”. He continued to say “I am quite shocked and distressed at Steve Irwin’s sudden untimely and freakish death, it’s a huge loss to Australia – he was a wonderful character, he was a passionate environmentalist, he brought entertainment and excitement to millions of people.”
Steve Irwin had turned a small reptile park in Queensland into a Zoo which is now a major centre for Australian Wildlife. He was famous for his handlings with the likes of crocodiles, snakes and spiders and will sadly be missed by many!! I was definitely a fan! He was one of the most passionate and charismatic characters ever to appear on our tv screens!!
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