Stingray kills 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin

[almitywife]

The second is that he was filming when it happened. Folks with a camera in their hands have a way of forgetting everything except getting the shot.

Leadweight - Steve Irwin was not filming... the camerman was

Steve was snorkling approx 2mtrs above the animal

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Leadweight - Steve Irwin was not filming... the camerman was

Steve was snorkling approx 2mtrs above the animal

I don't think we should speculate on what exactly happened. I've done a lot of accident investigations, and the media invariably gets it wrong.

That being said, we do have reliable reports that the sting ray did project its stinger into Steve's chest, and that cannot happen from 2 meters away.

We also have reports that Steve pulled the stinger out of his chest himself. This may or may not be true. But if it is, and it was lodged in his heart, then that could have contributed to his death. One other poster stated that you don't pull anything out of a chest would (or other wounds, for that matter). If someone had pulled out the knife stuck in Dr. Martin Luther King's chest in the 1960s, he probably would have died years before he became the icon of the non-violent protest of black Americans' treatment in the USA. But I've also heard that this stingray spine is tipped with a mucus that is very painful to endure, very infectious, and it may have been a reflexive action that Steve made to remove it. It may also have not made any difference in the ultimate outcome. So we still should not second-guess Steve's actions here.

I am saddened by Steve's death, as he stood for the type of environmentalism and conservation ethic that needs to be more prevelant in our world. The world has lost a spokesman for the creatures he loved so much, and hopefully his legacy is that we can love these creatures as much as he did. His passion, his wit, and his purpose will be sorely missed in a global society which often overlooks the consequences of its actions on the environment.

RIP Steve, and my sincere condolescences to the family, friends, and the rest of us who loved watching this fascinating guy as he explained our often invisible world around us.

SeaRat

 

[NCSCUBADOOBA]

Wow! I watched Anderson Cooper last night and Steve's friend said the rumors that he took the barb out were totally false. Guess he was misinformed. What would've happened had he not removed it I wonder?
I had a dive trip in Belize in April/May. I had a giant stingray rub up under my "backside" and had no clue that they were dangerous creatures at the time. Now I know.
My condolences to his family.
Angela

 

[Doubles]

Well guys, I for one like to use humor in situations like this. Thus, here's that FedEx commercial he did. Personally I think he was a great guy who did a lot for the animals he worked with--instead of people thinking they're mindless killers I hope he has shown the message that many are only defensive and attack only when provoked--"misunderstood" if you will.

I agree with all of this. Here is one of my favorite spots with Steve Irwin tackling the Florida Gator at ESPN headquarters. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU0UFbxZDGM

I have also read that Steve Irwin purchased land and did many other things that may not be well known, all to preserve wildlife habitat

We all know how important sharks are to the reef systems of the world, if they are killed off the reefs will certainly die with them. Steve Irwin, while wild and over the top did more to show the world creatures most would consider violent and useless really do have a necessary place in our eco system. How many people would watch someone who was mild mannered and tame on tv about such things? I bet not many, it's just the way our world is.

 

[gangrel441]

He was bittend by crocodiles before. He even says so in the Larry King Live video interview.

He took a tooth in the hand while he was holding a croc's mouth shut in order to secure the top jaw line and prep him for moving. It took a couple of stitches. Not exactly what I would call a bite.

 

[jepuskar]

Lead Weight....both of your reasons for this accident are WRONG!! Nice try though!!

 

[fishoutawater]

Now I feel kinda bad. I just remembered, last Halloween at a party, I wore my khaki shorts, khaki shirt, and my Australian bush hat, with a rubber snake hanging from my nose.

 

[opalobsidian]

Steve is a hero in my mind because he lived a huge and passionate life.

Personally I'd rather go out in the blaze of a coral reef than decomposing in a terminal care unit.

A salute to people who live life fearlessly!

And of course, living life in fear doesn't guarantee a longer life, it will just seem longer

 

[CBulla]

Regarding the stinger, for those who have been hit by a ray or have treated puncture wounds created by the stinger of these animals but unless something just about as freak as this accident occured the stinger does not break off or left behind. Of course, my experience comes from the variety of Ray's we have here in SW FL and the puncutres are usually in the foot to mid-calf area.

Basic first aid for puncture is heat since the poison left behind is a protien that is sensitive to heat. If a wound is around or near his heart, the application of heat (110-115° F) in the core area of the body may not have been advised by any local medical personnel on site. I suggest local medical personnel since the nature of his job was to take it to the 'edge' with wild life and with what corporate and governmental investments have in his expeditions, it would be a prudent move.

Anyway - until official reports of what caused the death, be it protien poisoning or a puncture of the heart or a little of both, its purely speculation.

May one of the best personailities shaping young minds about the creatures of our planet rest in peace.... "So long and thanks for all the fish" Mate!

 

[scubadobadoo]

I agree with all of this. Here is one of my favorite spots with Steve Irwin tackling the Florida Gator at ESPN headquarters. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU0UFbxZDGM

I have also read that Steve Irwin purchased land and did many other things that may not be well known, all to preserve wildlife habitat

We all know how important sharks are to the reef systems of the world, if they are killed off the reefs will certainly die with them. Steve Irwin, while wild and over the top did more to show the world creatures most would consider violent and useless really do have a necessary place in our eco system. How many people would watch someone who was mild mannered and tame on tv about such things? I bet not many, it's just the way our world is.

Excellent commercial, especially since I am an FSU alumni. RIP Steve.