Holy @#%! - Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin killed by a sting-ray barb to the chest

[Matt_Fury]

I wonder if they'll close the stingray petting pool at Sea World now. 

I've seen his shows plenty of times and it was only a matter of time before he got seriously hurt/killed.  It's a shame, and I wish it hadn't happened, but at the same time I'm not all that suprised.

[Diddly]

Here's something I found on imdb:

"He tells his camera crew to always be filming. If he needs help, he will ask for it. Even if he is eaten by a shark or croc, the main thing he wants is that it be filmed. If he died, he would be sad if no one got it on tape."

I wonder if something will show up on youtube tomorrow...

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20355112-601,00.html

It was filmed, but the cops have possession of it.

[Rob]

Well, today I learned that stingrays are dangerous.  I didn't know that tail of their's was so menacing, apparently they can accelerate it to projectile speed and plunge that barb into it's prey.  It usual does it as defense only.




I have a new respect for these critters:

See, they're not quite as wussy as they look.

[Rob]

I wonder if they'll close the stingray petting pool at Sea World now. 

My understanding is that all those rays are de-stingered in some fashion.  There would have been hundreds of incidents there by now if they weren't.

[Artoo]

 
I loved his show. You'd think he would of got killed by a croc or snake though.

[Darth Broem]

Yeah, when I first heard this I thought for sure he must have been killed by a crocodile or a snake.  I never would whave thought a stingray would do him in.  I feel badly for his wife and kids.  Yes, he was do for something like this unofrtunately.  It still sucks as I actually liked this guy and his shows.  I was a little put off by him taking his 1 month old son with him but not as much as the media made it out to be.  Anyway RIP Steve.

[Matt_Fury]

I wonder if they'll close the stingray petting pool at Sea World now. 

My understanding is that all those rays are de-stingered in some fashion.  There would have been hundreds of incidents there by now if they weren't.

There was a sign saying "Don't Pet their tails" 

[Artoo]

Yeah, but one could of moved quickly (while the person was not moving) & stung someone.

Edit- Fixed it.

[Dressel Rebel]

Yeah, but one could moved quickly & stung someone.

Come again?

[john todd]

this is shocking.  i thought he was past the super dangerous stuff that made him famous.  it sucks that an unlikely strike by a usually non lethal animal could kill him.

[Smartypants1635]

The crazy thing is the chances of the stingray barb puncturing his heart is astronomical,(No Han Solo/Threepio jokes. "Never tell me the odds"). Whats even more amazing, is the fact that divers will even catch rides on them.  Just one stinger, in the most impossible place.

[iFett]

I feel bad for Mr. Irwin and his widow as well.  I really liked his enthusiasm towards "meeting his death" by wrangling/handling large exotic animals. 

What are his kids' names?  I heard them on the news earlier today, but I couldn't quite understand how they're names were pronounced.

[Ryan]

The crazy thing is the chances of the stingray barb puncturing his heart is astronomical,(No Han Solo/Threepio jokes. "Never tell me the odds"). Whats even more amazing, is the fact that divers will even catch rides on them. Just one stinger, in the most impossible place.

Divers catch rides on Manta Rays not sing rays. The are two different animals.

[tonphanan]

His wife was out hiking and did not find out until after she got back home. He leaves behind a 3 year old and 8 year old.  There have only been 3 other deaths by stingrays ever recorded. Irwin was world reknowned as a top authority on reptiles. Even though many of us that watched the show always made fun at his over excitement in catching a venomous snake and his "Crikey" statements he will be missed.

[SilentKnight]

Honestly, his death shocked me
I mean, it just came as such a wake up call
When I was a little kid (not long ago) I loved his shows
and now...
I just never really expected him to die so soon
Actually, I never even thought of him dying