Tributes for The Crocodile Hunter, father of two

We don’t typically post passings but he has two small children.

Animal lover and environmentalist Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter, has been tragically killed whilst filming a nature documentary off Australia’s Queensland coast. Steve, 44, was swimming in Batt Reef when freakishly struck in the chest by a stingray barb. Wife Terri and two kids Bindi Sue, 8, and Robert (Bob), 2 1/2, were in Tasmania at the time and were sadly informed by police of the accident. The Crocodile Hunter is hugely admired in Australia, as he is worldwide, and the Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, had this to say:  "I am quite shocked and distressed at Steve Irwin’s sudden, untimely and freakish death … It’s a huge loss to Australia."

Source: News.com.au

Thanks to CBB readers Dimity and Belinda

Comments

How very sad. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. My kids love to watch his show.

- Kim on September 4th, 2006

It’s terrible. I’m in shock! I was in Australia on holiday 2 months ago and we visited his zoo…I can’t believe he’s dead. He always did crazy dangerous stuff but I’d never have thought it would kill him. Reportedly he was filming stuff for his daughter’s new show and the whole thing was not meant to be dangerous at all. My heart goes out to Terri, Bindi, Bob and the whole family.

- fynn on September 4th, 2006

Truly a terrible loss. His conservation ideals will never be fulfilled now! I know that he came across as loud and outrageous but I think he was doing good in a quiet way. (Buying huge tracts of land to make animals reserves and the like!)
Atleast he died doing what he loved to do – be with ‘his’ animals!!

- Dazzlar on September 4th, 2006

OMG!!!! His poor family!!!! I absolutely LOVED him!!! What a tragic loss. Prayers and sympathies to his family.

- tink1217 on September 4th, 2006

What a sad day for us Aussies. Steve was a much loved public identity down here, a genuine, nice bloke who truly loved his job and his kids. I feel for his family, Bindi and Bob and wife Terri. He will be missed.

- Kim on September 4th, 2006

The first thing I thought about this morning when I heard this news was his children. It is very sad.

- anon on September 4th, 2006

I am absolutely shocked and deeply saddened by this news!! My prayers are with his family. This is just awful!

- P Dawn on September 4th, 2006

RIP Steve. You will certainly be missed. You brought so much to all of us thru your knowledge of the animal kingdom and your wonderful personality. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

- Carrie on September 4th, 2006

This is just tragic. My children and I loved his shows. He did so much for the animals and their environment in his native Australia. My heart goes out to his family.

- Allison on September 4th, 2006

I often wonder why life is so unjust sometimes.

Steve, rest in peace. Thank you for your energy and your enthusiasm. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family!

- kily18 on September 4th, 2006

My 10 year old daughter, Charlott, has been a huge fan of his since she was a toddler. Our family watched his show quite often and it has helped my kids to have a great interest and love for animals.
We’re keeping his wife and children in our prayers.

- Jen on September 4th, 2006

Our condolences for his wife & kids. He was awesome.

- Tracy on September 4th, 2006

I kind of figured this would happen. Steve Irwin was always so carefree with those wild untamed animals. It’s almost like he commited suicide. He knew swiming in a river with sting rays in it was dangerous.

- TEH on September 4th, 2006

It’s so sad!! I just caught it on the news a bit ago. You know with having this type of job, doing certain things you put your life at risk!! He did this ALL the time and endangered his baby once with a crocodile that sparked an outrage. It’s tragic yes, my family and I are shocked! Prayers go out to the family.

- Doreen on September 4th, 2006

This is just absolutely horrible news to wake up to.

I have to say Steve did do dangerous things but he did what he was good at and what he loved to do and in some retrospect he died doing exactly what he loved doing.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family esp. his two children bob and bindi. I’m going to miss his shows and his Croc humor!

- joy on September 4th, 2006

My jaw nearly dropped to the floor when I saw the news. It’s always a sad day when a truly passionate and charismatic animal lover dies, and especially when it is because of a sudden, freak accident. He taught all of us to respect and to protect even some of the animals we’ve come to fear, and he did it in a way which entertained and educated us at the same time. Such a guy is really hard to come by. He will be sorely missed.

My thoughts go out to his family.

- Miao on September 4th, 2006

I only heard about this this morning and I am still in shock. He always seemed invincible in a way, and to die of such a freak accident is frightening. I feel for his wife and his two children, Bindi and Bob.

- Michelle on September 4th, 2006

I am so sad, I loved Steve and Terri. He will be sadly missed..

- Tammy H. on September 4th, 2006

Shocking above all. Steve was a living ledgend now his ledgend will certainly live on. I think Bindi will go on to do great things. Love to Bindi, Terri, baby Bob and the family, Australia, this is a great great loss.

- tanianni on September 4th, 2006

I read this last night on yahoo news after I got home from work. I was in shock…like Miao my jaw dropped and was almost brought to tears. I loved his show while I was a young teen and as an adult looked forward to seeing him on talk shows promoting the love of all animals. He was truely an inspiration to people all around the world. His zest for life and animals will be greatly missed. I really hope that his efforts to conserve all animals including crocs won’t stop even after his passing. That would be a tragedy!

It’s kind of weird…even though we all knew he risked his life on a daily basis I guess we all thought he was invinsible…

Mr. Irwin, rest in peace.

- ericka on September 4th, 2006

Ohhh I got so sad when I hear the news. My God, his kids are so young, and he was so young too. We will miss him.

- Ana on September 4th, 2006

Very sad. His wife and children will be in my prayers.

- tash on September 4th, 2006

This is such shocking news He was only 44 !!!!!
I feel so sorry for Terri, Bindi and Bob.

- Heavenly_Hibiscus on September 4th, 2006

were just sitting her watching a tribute to him on animal planet and they had a past interview with little bindi how she was talking about how she just loves her dad. My mom and I were like wow that little girl is going to be crushed. Her daddy was her hero. But Steve always said his greatest joy would be for his children to take over the zoo and I do hope that Terri (which I believe she will) continues to educate the children on wildlife conservation and continue Steve’s dream.

- joy on September 4th, 2006

I was truly shocked and upset at hearing abotu the passing of Steve Irwin. He was a great man, and a greater husband and father. I am shocked at TEH’s comment, suggesting that he commited suicide. Don’t you think that man’s family is having a tough enough time with his passing with people saying cruel things like your comments posted here. For everyone who has msn put a turtle infront of ur display name out of respect for steve. Thank You!

- Mel on September 4th, 2006

TEH, it wasn’t necessarily a dangerous situation, it was a freak incident. He’s only the 3rd person ever in Australia to die under these circumstances. And just because he was carefree around the animals doesn’t mean he was careless. Steve knew what he was doing. It was NOTHING like suicide. He will be hugely missed here, and around the world.

- Raye on September 4th, 2006

I was reading Marie Claire jusy yesterday morning and they had a gorgeous article for fathers day about Bindi and Steve.

My thoughts are also with their family.

- Shannon CBB contributor on September 4th, 2006

I couldn’t believe what I heard when my cousin told me this morning.
Till I read it myself.

He was the greatest guy ever I absolutely loved his show and movie.
He always made people laugh on his show and in interviews.

I’m in a huge state of shock I never thought this is how he would be killed.

my deepest sympathies go out especially to his his family and friends.

Rest in peace steve we all love you.
Thank You for all the years you made me and my family laugh and for teaching us everything about animals.

Love Danielle and all the animals we love you.

- Danielle on September 5th, 2006

TEH, actually, Sting Rays are some of the most docile creatures. People swim with them all the time.. you can pet sting rays at Sea World. This was absolutely a freak occurance. The only reason the ray would have attacked was if it was agitated ahead of time, by a shark for instance. SO what probably happened was the shark had been bothering the ray (there was a shark in the water near the incident, wasn’t there?) and it was agitated, and so it lunged blindly and got Steve. There was no way to predict this.. its not like sting rays just go around attacking humans. They dont see humans as a food source, and so they would have no motivation for just randomly attacking a human.

All that aside, Steve’s passing was a terrible loss. I truly hope his family can find peace. The world will definately miss you, Steve.

Note from Danielle, CBB Publisher: I pet a stingray a few years ago, as did my niece who was around 6 at the time, at a special pool at the Four Seasons Hawaii.

- Zoey on September 5th, 2006

i was soooo upset when i heard the news and i know lots of my friends were some of us acctully cried our hearts and thought go out to all his family and friends. hope they get through this difficult time and with help the great healer time the wounds will slowley heal but he will never be out of our hearts.
R.I.P
steveo ‘the crocdile hunter’

- Chloe on September 5th, 2006

Such sad news about a truly good guy! Steve will be missed so much. His family is in my prayers.

- dede on September 5th, 2006

Its very sad…he was like a superhero to all young and old…I am super duper sadden by this…I’m sure the World will always honor this TRUE legend of the Wild!!

I pity the children…bindi and bob…so young to lose a Increadible father!Well i m a Singaporean…and 1 m sure all around Singapore…will be mourning for his death…

AND 1 more thing this guy call “Greer” can you please lay of Steve Irvin…he Love doing this alot…he is like a FATHER to ALL!! A wildlife father…

- gerard on September 5th, 2006

Though never a fan, I knew Steve was a legend. He will, in his own right, go down in history whether he likes it or not. A true blue Aussie, I do believe he will live on not only in his children, but in the hundreds of staff at Australia Zoo.

- Alanna on September 6th, 2006

I am so sad that he is gone, but at least he died doing something he loved. Yes, his work and passion was dangerous, but so are a lot of passions…i.e. race car driving, etc.

Sting rays are not dangerous. They do not attack, they just defend themselves. This was such a freak accident. Likely it will not happen again for a very long time. When we were in Grand Cayman last year, we went swimming with the stingrays…I even got a kiss (eeeww!) from one. We even had a stingray exhibit (where you could touch the stingrays) at our local zoo. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

His wife seems like such a strong person, I know she will get through this OK. God Bless the Irwin family.

- corriev on September 6th, 2006

My family and I are in shock that Steve is no longer with us.
We send our most sincere condolences to his family and friends. You are all in our prayers.

Barbara

- Barbara on September 7th, 2006

Steve you taught my family and I alot about wildlife we will miss you. Terri and family my thoughts and prayers for all.

- linda on September 7th, 2006

My family and i would watch his shows whenever they were on. Well this is a sad day for us all.

- Amra Amar and Emir on September 18th, 2006