Crocodile Hunter' Irwin killed

[Norseman]

This has nothing to do with Thailand, but I guess most of us "knew" this man.
Sad story.

Australian environmentalist and television personality Steve Irwin has died during a diving accident.

Mr Irwin, 44, was killed by a stingray barb to the chest while he was filming an underwater documentary in Queensland's Great Barrier Reef.

Paramedics from the nearby city of Cairns rushed to treat him at the scene but were unable to save him.

Mr Irwin was known for his television show The Crocodile Hunter and his work with native Australian wildlife.

Police in Queensland confirmed the naturalist's death and said his family had been notified. Mr Irwin was married with two young children.

"It is believed that Mr Irwin collapsed after being stung by a stingray at Batt Reef off Port Douglas at about 11:00 am (0100 GMT)," a police statement quoted by AFP news agency said.

"His crew called for medical treatment and the Queensland medical helicopter responded, however Mr Irwin had died."

Read more here http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5311298.stm

[JW]

Tragic,

What a crazy cool guy, really did live for wildlife. Very sad loss.

Shine on you crazy diamond.

[Bamboo Grove]

Suppose he died doing what he loved the best.

[BaaBaa.]

Reports on the radio in the UK are saying the stingray barb was straight through his heart.
But as Bamboo Grove said he did die doing what he loved.

[chelsea]

Here is a whole series of articles from one of the Australian news websites.
http://www.smh.com.au

[PeteC]

He's left two toddlers behind and his American wife, who we've all seen on the shows with him. Very sad for them. I think his eldest daughter is about 4-5. How do you tell her? He came across as a decent guy. Pete

PS: I stand corrected, his daughter is now 8 already and his son 3. Still not easy.

I know this happens thousands of times everyday to folks who are not celebrities, but published events like this drives home how difficult it is to tell a child Mom or Dad is not coming home anymore. Next most difficult is to tell a Mom or Dad their child is gone.

[lomuamart]

Yeah, died by the sword, as they say. I always thought he was brilliant, although I do know that some Aussies were never too happy with his taking his toddler to the crocs.

[Randy Cornhole]

You'd have bet a pound to a penny it would have been a croc or a snake that would finally catch him off guard not a stingray!
Tragic ending for someone so young.

[buksida]

The way the media hyped it into a "Stingray attack" was comical, a stingray would never attack unless you picked it up by its raynuts or stepped on it.

[BaaBaa.]

In what countrys media?
It hasnt been sensationalised in the UK press from what ive seen.
Maybe the sport reported it as a 20 foot man hunting death ray.

[dr dave soul monsta]

What are Troy Tempests comments on this

[BaaBaa.]

He was interviewed but i was in a busy bar and was unable to lip read.

[buksida]

At least ten stingrays have been found dead and mutilated on Australia’s eastern coast in the last week in what conservationists believe could be revenge attacks for the death of Steve Irwin, the popular naturalist and television personality.

Full Story

When was the last time a stingray came into Tesco and attacked somebody?

[Kraka's Dad]

That is pathetic.
Just how many cases have there been of a stingray killing someone???
Very very few !!

He was so so unlucky nothing more.

[DawnHRD]

What sort of sick, moronic individual exacts revenge on an animal? Especially, if it's not the actual animal involved but just the relevant species? I can't even find the words to express how... I find this. It's really sad the guy died, but, WTF?