Crocodile Man Steve Irwin dead
September 04, 2006 12:28pm, THE Crocodile Man, Steve Irwin, is dead. He was killed in a freak accident in Cairns, police sources said. It is understood he was killed by a sting-ray barb that went through his chest.
He was swimming off the Low Isles at Port Douglas filming an underwater documentary and that's when it occured.
Ambulance officers confirmed they attended a reef fatality this morning at Batt Reef off Port Douglas.
Born in Victoria, Australia and later relocated to Queensland, the Irwin family started a small reptile park in Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast. In 1973, the Australia Zoo opened their doors to the public and it became a true family business. The young Irwin literally grew up with the animals at the zoo, taking part in their daily maintenance and care.
The elder Irwin taught his young son everything there was to know about reptiles -- even teaching young Irwin how to jump in and catch crocodiles in the rivers of North Queensland at night. His favorite boast back then (and to this day) is that every crocodile in their park (now numbering some 100 animals) was either caught by their bare hands or bred and raised in their park.
In 1990, Irwin received his break into television when he was reunited with his friend, television producer John Stainton. Stainton was filming a television commercial in the Australian reptile park and had extended an offer to shoot a documentary of Irwin and his animals. In 1992, Irwin's first documentary,"The Crocodile Hunter," aired on the Discovery Channel. The success of this documentary led to the production of one of the most popular nature series on cable television.
Irwin could not have made a more fitting choice when he decided to appear in the feature film "Dr. Dolittle 2"(2001), the Eddie Murphy vehicle about a doctor who who can speak to animals. One year later, Irwin's bold and courageous demeanor was showcased in his first starring feature role as himself in "The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course" (2002). In it Irwin is joined by his wife Terri as they do what they do best...hunt crocodiles. A nature lover at heart, Irwin did not forget those who have helped him claim fame -- he donated a generous portion of his movie earnings to various crocodile and animal rescue leagues.
THE Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, is dead.
He was killed in a freak accident in Cairns, police sources said today.
It is understood he was killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest and reportedly into his heart .
He was swimming off the Low Isles at Port Douglas filming an underwater documentary when the tragedy occured.
The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) was called about 11am (AEST) and an emergency services helicopter was flown to the crew's boat on Batt Reef, off the coast near Cairns, with a doctor and emergency services paramedic on board.
Irwin had a puncture wound to the left side of his chest and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Irwin's body is being flown to Cairns.
It is believed his American-born wife Terri is trekking on Cradle Mountain in Tasmania and is yet to be told of her husband's death.
The Irwins have two children - a daughter, Bindi Sue Irwin, eight, and a three-year-old son, Robert (Bob) Clarence Irwin.
Steve Irwin - known worldwide as the Crocodile Hunter - is famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchcry "Crikey!".
In an sad twist, it has been reported that his new documentary was aimed at demystifying the stingray.
Irwin's Crocodile Hunter program was first broadcast in 1992 and has been shown around the world on cable network Discovery.
He has also starred in movies and has developed the Australia Zoo wildlife park, north of Brisbane, which was started by his parents Bob and Lyn Irwin.
Tributes have already started pouring in for the larger-than-life character.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who used a photograph of his family at Australia Zoo for his official Christmas card last year, hailed Mr Irwin for his work in promoting Australia.
Irwin was heavily involved in last year's "G'Day LA" campaign.
"The minister knew him, was fond of him and was very, very appreciative of all the work he'd done to promote Australia overseas," a spokesman said.
A Tourism Queensland spokeswoman said the death was shocking and paid tribute to Irwin's "enormous contribution" to his adopted state.
Louise Yates said it was impossible to quantify how much Mr Irwin had meant to the Queensland tourism industry.
"I don't think we could even estimate how much he brought us through his personality and his profile and his enthusiasm about Queensland," she said.
"It would be difficult to estimate how much he was worth. And it would be difficult to underestimate."
She said Irwin had been a larger-than-life ambassador.
"It's not just what he brought but what he took with him when he travelled, his passion."
Australia Zoo, on southeast Queensland's Sunshine Coast, employs more than 500 people and attracts thousands of visitors every day.
But Ms Yates said it would be "unfair and unjust" to put a dollar value on Irwin's worth to the state, because of how much he had given.
September 04, 2006 12:28pm, THE Crocodile Man, Steve Irwin, is dead. He was killed in a freak accident in Cairns, police sources said. It is understood he was killed by a sting-ray barb that went through his chest.
He was swimming off the Low Isles at Port Douglas filming an underwater documentary and that's when it occured.
Ambulance officers confirmed they attended a reef fatality this morning at Batt Reef off Port Douglas.
Born in Victoria, Australia and later relocated to Queensland, the Irwin family started a small reptile park in Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast. In 1973, the Australia Zoo opened their doors to the public and it became a true family business. The young Irwin literally grew up with the animals at the zoo, taking part in their daily maintenance and care.
The elder Irwin taught his young son everything there was to know about reptiles -- even teaching young Irwin how to jump in and catch crocodiles in the rivers of North Queensland at night. His favorite boast back then (and to this day) is that every crocodile in their park (now numbering some 100 animals) was either caught by their bare hands or bred and raised in their park.
In 1990, Irwin received his break into television when he was reunited with his friend, television producer John Stainton. Stainton was filming a television commercial in the Australian reptile park and had extended an offer to shoot a documentary of Irwin and his animals. In 1992, Irwin's first documentary,"The Crocodile Hunter," aired on the Discovery Channel. The success of this documentary led to the production of one of the most popular nature series on cable television.
Irwin could not have made a more fitting choice when he decided to appear in the feature film "Dr. Dolittle 2"(2001), the Eddie Murphy vehicle about a doctor who who can speak to animals. One year later, Irwin's bold and courageous demeanor was showcased in his first starring feature role as himself in "The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course" (2002). In it Irwin is joined by his wife Terri as they do what they do best...hunt crocodiles. A nature lover at heart, Irwin did not forget those who have helped him claim fame -- he donated a generous portion of his movie earnings to various crocodile and animal rescue leagues.
THE Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, is dead.
He was killed in a freak accident in Cairns, police sources said today.
It is understood he was killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest and reportedly into his heart .
He was swimming off the Low Isles at Port Douglas filming an underwater documentary when the tragedy occured.
The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) was called about 11am (AEST) and an emergency services helicopter was flown to the crew's boat on Batt Reef, off the coast near Cairns, with a doctor and emergency services paramedic on board.
Irwin had a puncture wound to the left side of his chest and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Irwin's body is being flown to Cairns.
It is believed his American-born wife Terri is trekking on Cradle Mountain in Tasmania and is yet to be told of her husband's death.
The Irwins have two children - a daughter, Bindi Sue Irwin, eight, and a three-year-old son, Robert (Bob) Clarence Irwin.
Steve Irwin - known worldwide as the Crocodile Hunter - is famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchcry "Crikey!".
In an sad twist, it has been reported that his new documentary was aimed at demystifying the stingray.
Irwin's Crocodile Hunter program was first broadcast in 1992 and has been shown around the world on cable network Discovery.
He has also starred in movies and has developed the Australia Zoo wildlife park, north of Brisbane, which was started by his parents Bob and Lyn Irwin.
Tributes have already started pouring in for the larger-than-life character.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who used a photograph of his family at Australia Zoo for his official Christmas card last year, hailed Mr Irwin for his work in promoting Australia.
Irwin was heavily involved in last year's "G'Day LA" campaign.
"The minister knew him, was fond of him and was very, very appreciative of all the work he'd done to promote Australia overseas," a spokesman said.
A Tourism Queensland spokeswoman said the death was shocking and paid tribute to Irwin's "enormous contribution" to his adopted state.
Louise Yates said it was impossible to quantify how much Mr Irwin had meant to the Queensland tourism industry.
"I don't think we could even estimate how much he brought us through his personality and his profile and his enthusiasm about Queensland," she said.
"It would be difficult to estimate how much he was worth. And it would be difficult to underestimate."
She said Irwin had been a larger-than-life ambassador.
"It's not just what he brought but what he took with him when he travelled, his passion."
Australia Zoo, on southeast Queensland's Sunshine Coast, employs more than 500 people and attracts thousands of visitors every day.
But Ms Yates said it would be "unfair and unjust" to put a dollar value on Irwin's worth to the state, because of how much he had given.
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