Crikey...

G Fresh · Post by **G Fresh** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 3:26 am

Steve Irwin killed in freak accident at sea

By staff writers

September 04, 2006 05:19pm
Article from: NEWS.com.au

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A DOCTOR has told of the desperate efforts to save Australian icon Steve Irwin after the Crocodile Hunter was struck in the chest by a stingray barb today.

Irwin, 44, died this morning after being fatally injured while filming a nature documentary off Queensland.

The news has shocked the nation and prompted a rush of tributes from politicians and the public alike.

Irwin's wife Terri was in Tasmania at the time of the tragedy and had to be contacted by police with the terrible news.

Dr Ed O'Loughlin was aboard the Emergency Management Queensland Helicopter which was called from Cairns at 11.21am (AEST).

Irwin was being given CPR at Low Isles, off Port Douglas, as the helicopter arrived less than one hour after the incident, but Dr O'Loughlin said nothing could be done to save him.

"It became clear fairly soon that he had non-survivable injuries," Dr O'Loughlin said.

"He had a penetrating injury to the left front of his chest.

"He had lost his pulse and wasn't breathing."

Father-of-two Irwin was swimming at Batt Reef, off the Low Isles, when the tragedy occurred.

Tasmania Police this afternoon confirmed his wife Terri was travelling in the state at the time of the tragedy.

A spokeswoman said police had made contact with Mrs Irwin and "passed on a message relating to the death of her husband".

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 - was 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 quickly poured in for the larger-than-life character.
Prime Minister John Howard said Irwin was a typical Australian larrikin who brought joy to millions of people around the world.

"I am quite shocked and distressed at Steve Irwin's sudden, untimely and freakish death," he said.

"It's a huge loss to Australia."

A Tourism Queensland spokeswoman said the death was shocking and paid tribute to Irwin's "enormous contribution" to his adopted state.

"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.

sevesd93 · Post by **sevesd93** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 7:51 am

It is a sad sad day.

bwohlgemuth · Post by **bwohlgemuth** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:05 am

It's sad, not unforseen, but damn sad. The kids are the ones I feel the worse for.

Post by **cwallace** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:08 am

Wow..lead story on cnn.com

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/0 ... index.html

Chris

QWETTY · Post by **QWETTY** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:49 am

that is terrible luck for the entire family... sad day

flapjacks · Post by **flapjacks** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:42 am

homeboy should have stuck with crocs

Massage...Bored · Post by **Massage...Bored** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 12:53 pm

Now who's gonna hock the Frank's Red Hot Chicken Sub at Subway?

rezin · Post by **rezin** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 2:52 pm

this sucks...

zenmandan · Post by **zenmandan** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:25 pm

As of this afternoon, Subway is still playing the commercials. IMHO they should have pulled the spots instantly. I saw the commercial three times this morning. If they keep it on they should at least put a picture of him up with his birth and death dates or something. That guy singlehandedly did a ton of great stuff for every zoo in the world because of his show.

poopstains · Post by **poopstains** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 7:40 pm

Was anyone really that surprised to hear the means in which he died.

QWETTY · Post by **QWETTY** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 7:56 pm

poopstains wrote:Was anyone really that surprised to hear the means in which he died.

the mans? yes. The fact that he died? no.

i was figuring for a croc or shark to have killed him before this

he will be missed

G Fresh · Post by **G Fresh** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:14 pm

Was anyone really that surprised to hear the means in which he died.

Yes, actually. From everything that I've read, fatal stingray attacks are extremely rare, something like only 17 fatalities worldwide. Steve Irwin was just extremely unlucky and the barb went straight into his heart.

Apparently, the whole thing was caught on video. I really hope it doesn't get leaked onto the internet.

jewlee138 · Post by **jewlee138** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:17 pm

Massage...Bored wrote:Now who's gonna hock the Frank's Red Hot Chicken Sub at Subway?

That's exactly what I was thinking...

bassjones · Post by **bassjones** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:06 pm

Apparently, the whole thing was caught on video. I really hope it doesn't get leaked onto the internet.

Somehow, I fear it will be on youtube before the coffin's in the ground. This is a very sad day. I feel for those poor kids and his wife.

rezin · Post by **rezin** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:18 pm

G Fresh wrote:

Apparently, the whole thing was caught on video. I really hope it doesn't get leaked onto the internet.

word, i was talkin about that earlier...