talkmagic.co.uk

Television personality and environmentalist Steve Irwin has died after being stung by a stingray while filming off north Queensland.

Known worldwide as the Crocodile Hunter, the 44-year-old was famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchcry "Crikey!"

The Queensland Police Service issued a statement saying Irwin collapsed after being stung at Batt Reef, Low Isles, off Port Douglas about 11am. He had been filming a documentary.

"Steve was hit by a stingray in the chest," said local diving operator Steve Edmondson, whose Poseidon boats were out on the Great Barrier Reef when the accident occured.

"He probably died from a cardiac arrest from the injury," he said.

Irwin had a puncture wound to the left side of his chest and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said Irwin's family had been advised and Irwin's body was being flown to Cairns.

The Irwins have two children, a daughter, Bindi Sue, 8, and a son, Robert Clarence, 3.

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Sad to hear, I grew up watching his shows.

I also heard of this sad news, some of his programmes are still on sky.

Steve Irwin was brilliant, his love for wildlife was fantastic and inspiring.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/20 ... 732439.htm

Apparently he was filming a documentary, and was stung through the heart by a stingray whilst diving off Port Douglas.

It was also said that the stingray was probably startled, and that for a stingray to kill a person, it would have been near the heart.

Will be sadly missed, I loved his programmes and film.

I only just heard about this like 10 minutes ago. i know gis voice was annoying sometimes but someone really doens't deserve to die like that at all. He was only 44, he had half of his life ahead of him! I watched alot of his tv shows as i am a big fan of animals.

Woah. Sad news. I used to watch his programmes from time-to-time and found them quite interesting. Terrible shame, a man cut down in his prime like that.

He was a great guy and i found him very funny. RIP Steve

I personally thought he was unhinged in the extreme but very entertaining because of it. When I saw the news, I immediately thought his luck had run out with a poisonous snake or a big croc, but this is an unfortunate way to go. Someone on TV this morning said the last time a stingay had managed to kill a human was in the 1940s, which really puts the randomness of it all into perspective.

Gosh, I actually couldn't believe it when i read this post. I've had to surf around the net for five minutes just to make sure.

This is absolutely gutting news, I though Steve Irwin would live for ever, he's invincible.

He was such a loveable character, he will be missed so much.

Man that sucks, but really doesnt surprise me, sad to say, but its true. With all his chances he was taking, with snakes and stuff. But still really sad news, i liked his show.

After all he has been up against in his life i cant believe a Stingray killed him. I watched his shows all the time and though sometimes didnt agree with his methods i thought he was a very good entertainer and the work he done for animal conservation was extremly important. The world has lost a great man.

Its a very sad thing, but dont you think he bought it on himself? He must have handled the stingray pretty hard for it to sting him. My first thought was maybe he thought it was a croc and tried to wrestle with it.

A report on the radio a few minutes ago said Steve was just swimming above the stingray which became frightened and lashed upwards with the stinger hitting him in the heart area. Last recorded incident of death from such a sting was 1946.

Of all the things that could have killed the man like snakes and spiders and crocs/aligators i cant believe the normally docile stingray killed him. I can see this sparking off a killing spree on these magnificent creatures.

long live the sting ray, steve your be sadly missed.

on a more sinical note with all the bets on what would kill him i wonder if anyone made a bet on a humble stingray and what was the odds.

I actually stroked and fed Stingrays when i went to Sea World, Orlando on my recent holiday. They didnt seem aggressive at all, but then again i guess those more familiar with human contact.

I feel a bit bad for this but yesturday i said i was surprised he hasnt been killed yet by a snake or a croc. I still remember an episode when he and his wife were climbing along a mountain to see baby pythons and he nearly killed both of them, some of the stuff he done was ridiculous but i still cant believe he actually got killed by a usually harmless fish. If i was to quote odds there would be more chance of meeting ET than for him to be killed in such a way. I still feel really bad for his wife and kids after this tragedy.