Steve Irwin Killed!

[Shannanigan]

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/15441535.htm

:'(

I nearly cried when I heard...and in such a rare occurence! I really feel for his wife and two kids. I grew up watching Irwin on Animal Planet and I just can't believe that he's gone so suddenly and in such a random event!

Condolences to the family and prayers to Irwin...

[Virgil]

I was saddened too when I heard. But it was not a random event. He, as I understand it, was doing another of his high risk animal events, and if you do risky things enough times then one day the dice will roll up snake eyes.

[subterranean]

Same here! I love his shows very much (The Crocodile Hunter, Animal Planet)! :( :(

May he rest in peace

[TEND]

This actually made front page news in Winnipeg! Surprising considering there were 5 of our soldiers killed yesterday, one that indirectly effects me. It is a bit sad, I used to watch him too and everyones done a Crocodile Hunter imitation now and again, but I just don't feel it is that BIG a deal...sorry if I offended anyone.

[aeroport]

I just heard about this from a friend today, and I really half-thought, from the story he told about Irwin's ridiculous death, that he was just messing with me. I was not entirely sure, truth to tell, until I found this thread. Quite a drag.

[thevintagepiper]

I was surprised and sad as well. But, as Virgil said, he sort of had it coming.


This actually made front page news in Winnipeg! Surprising considering there were 5 of our soldiers killed yesterday, one that indirectly effects me. It is a bit sad, I used to watch him too and everyones done a Crocodile Hunter imitation now and again, but I just don't feel it is that BIG a deal...sorry if I offended anyone.

Oh, wow, I'm sorry TEND. How does it effect you, if you don't mind?

[RobinHood3000]

"Had it coming," hmm...to be completely honest, that offends me a little bit. The man was a committed zoologist, with a family as well as a devotion to charitable causes for animals. As for what he was doing at the time, he wasn't even handling the stingray -- he simply swam too close to the floor, where the stingray (I believe) was hidden beneath the sand. He's also maybe the third person to die by stingray since the 1940s.

[Pendragon]

Steve no more "had it coming" than any of us do when we pass on! That statement is disgraceful. He was doing what he loved, what he spent his life doing, studying the wonders of nature and sharing it with the world. A stingray has a ten-inch poisonous spine. Usually they strike when someone steps on them, and the wound can be treated. This one went into Irwin's heart. Poison aside, that's going to probably be fatal. But with the poison straight into the blood supply, it was hopeless. He will be missed. Why? Because he actually cared about animals that many people would kill on sight and loved adventure and sharing it with everyone else. "Crikey, but we'll miss ya, mate!" God bless. :angel:

[Virgil]

I think Vintage used a poor choice of words. I was not saying he had it coming. What I was saying is that taking on risks have consequences. Just ask stunt men how many broken bones they have. Unfortunately adventure does not always have a happy ending, at least in real life.

[kathycf]

I think Vintage used a poor choice of words. I was not saying he had it coming. What I was saying is that taking on risks have consequences. Just ask stunt men how many broken bones they have. Unfortunately adventure does not always have a happy ending, at least in real life.

Agreed, sometimes people misuse sort of "catch phrases" such as " he had it coming. I cannot speak for Vintage, but from what I have read from her in different threads suggests absolutely nothing that would suggest callousness. I think she just made a mistake in her phraseology. Of course no one "has it coming" ...but sadly Mr Irwin chose a high risk occupation that sprang from a love of wildlife. I was saddened to read of his death, but not very surprised.

[Monica]

I was looking for sth on the internet when I noticed the news about his death but it was so surprising and awful to me that I continued my work. Only after some time it reached me. The news about death never really fully reach me, I always feel like that person still lives.

[TEND]

Oh, wow, I'm sorry TEND. How does it effect you, if you don't mind?

I don't mind. My girlfriends dad is a quite highly ranked individual in the military and one of his bestfriends was killed, and so I have been feeling the effects, although it's even worse I know for those who knew him and his family and those who knew and were related to all the others who died.

[Stanislaw]

I found out the other day at work...heh, our office had a minute of silence for him. (our boss was a big fan)

I can't really believe it myself reading about it, I thought it was a prank or something. (actually that was my original reaction to 9/11 when I was in school watching it on the morning news)

Its pretty sad, I grew up watching his show.:(

[thevintagepiper]

Agreed, sometimes people misuse sort of "catch phrases" such as " he had it coming. I cannot speak for Vintage, but from what I have read from her in different threads suggests absolutely nothing that would suggest callousness. I think she just made a mistake in her phraseology. Of course no one "has it coming" ...but sadly Mr Irwin chose a high risk occupation that sprang from a love of wildlife. I was saddened to read of his death, but not very surprised.

Thank you, Kathy.

That is not at ALL what I meant. I was saying that as a man with a high-risk hobby/job, he must have known the dangers and accepted them. I know his death was tragic, untimely, and not his fault.

I am very hurt that you all would take what I said that way.

[Shannanigan]

~sigh~

I'm sure no harm was meant, some of us had more of an attachment to Steve than others, perhaps, and reacted quickly...I know when I read Robin's post that I was nodding...but then I read Virgil's and nodded as well, lol...

I can see that some were less affected than I. I wasn't really posting to discuss whether or not his odds finally came about or whatever, really just to say "rest in peace" and send condolences to his beautiful family, and to recognize that he was a great man who did a lot for the preservation of wildlife and who helped many kids growing up, especially me, learn more about the world outside of the "urban jungle".

[RobinHood3000]

Vintage, I swear I did not take what you meant as being intentionally callous...it's only that some of us (like me) genuinely hoped the Crocodile Hunter was a hero who would not have to make this sacrifice.

[Stanislaw]

Vintage, I swear I did not take what you meant as being intentionally callous...it's only that some of us (like me) genuinely hoped the Crocodile Hunter was a hero who would not have to make this sacrifice.
yeah, I always sort of thought he was invincible.

[Shannanigan]

yeah, I always sort of thought he was invincible.

ditto;

entirely, undeniably, massively invincible in every sense of the word

[kathycf]

As trite as this might seem...not very many of us choose the way we pass from this life, and Steve Irwin at least died doing something he loved. I know, very cold comfort to his family and loved ones and also his many fans.

[Stanislaw]

heh, he died "with his boots on" so to speak.

[Sarka]

:bawling:
It is indeed a tragedy. I thought it was a prank as well... But then I read on and realized it was real.
What do you make of this controversy now over what should be done with the videotape of his death?! I find it a little disturbing that there are those (and a decent number of them) who would watch that footage simply out of morbid curiosity. I suppose morbid curiosity is deeply rooted in our human nature, but for that tape to actually be released would, in my opinion, be a rather creepy exploitation of the tragedy. Sometimes it really does seem as if the media will not hesitate to pounce on the latest horrible thing going on in the world and sensationalize it.

The Romans had gladiators; we have Reality TV.

[thevintagepiper]

:bawling:
It is indeed a tragedy. I thought it was a prank as well... But then I read on and realized it was real.
What do you make of this controversy now over what should be done with the videotape of his death?! I find it a little disturbing that there are those (and a decent number of them) who would watch that footage simply out of morbid curiosity. I suppose morbid curiosity is deeply rooted in our human nature, but for that tape to actually be released would, in my opinion, be a rather creepy exploitation of the tragedy. Sometimes it really does seem as if the media will not hesitate to pounce on the latest horrible thing going on in the world and sensationalize it.

The Romans had gladiators; we have Reality TV.

That's just wrong....I hope they don't release it.

[Logos]

His (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Irwin) "number one rule is to keep that camera rolling. Even if it's shaky or slightly out of focus, I don't give a rip. Even if a big old alligator is chewing me up I want to go down and go, 'Crikey!' just before I die. That would be the ultimate for me."

I think I watched like one of his shows and didn't like it, he did use sensationalisation tactics to get his message across, so it wouldn't surprise me one bit if they end up at least showing the footage leading up to the moment before/when he is struck by the stingray.

[RobinHood3000]

I didn't dare watch it...I simply can't.

Sensationalism? Probably. Still, at least it wasn't political -- I imagine it was the best way to get his audience's attention about something he cared about.

[Sarka]

[QUOTE=Logos;255002] His (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Irwin) "Even if a big old alligator is chewing me up I want to go down and go, 'Crikey!' just before I die. That would be the ultimate for me."

I wonder if he actually did say "Crikey!" I sort of hope he did.

[RobinHood3000]

Well, he was scuba-diving, so it's hard to tell...

[Shannanigan]

I've read articles and as far as I can tell, the video will not be released unless the family puts up a massive fight for it and then release it themselves. I'm glad, because it's true, people would watch simply out of morbid curiosity, or to see what his last moments were like, but it's not something we need all over the internet...

[ClaesGefvenberg]

Sad news of course, but then again: Did any one of us really expect Steve Irvin to die of old age? I agree that it is ironic that his demise was caused by a normally timid stingray. To him it probably seemed like a walk in the park compared to what he used to tangle with, but most of us would probably steer well clear of a stingray...

The world will be a lot less lively without him.

/Claes

[Scheherazade]

Dead stingrays with their tails cut off have been found in Australia, sparking concern that fans of naturalist Steve Irwin may be avenging his death. Mr Irwin, a TV personality known as the "Crocodile Hunter", was killed while diving in Queensland when a stingray's barb stabbed him in the chest.

Since then, 10 stingrays have been found mutilated on Queensland beaches.

Government officials said they were investigating the deaths and there could be prosecutions.

Two stingrays were found at a beach north of Brisbane with their tails cut off, while eight were found on another beach on Monday, The Australian reported.

Wayne Sumpton of the state fisheries department said it was not clear if the incidents were connected to Mr Irwin's death.

He said fishermen who inadvertently caught stingrays sometimes cut off their tails to avoid being stung, but such a practice was uncommon.

'Protect wildlife'

Michael Hornby, a friend of the late naturalist and executive director of Mr Irwin's Wildlife Warrior fund, condemned any revenge killings.

"We just want to make it very clear that we will not accept and not stand for anyone who's taken a form of retribution. That's the last thing Steve would want," he said.

"I hope everyone understands we have to protect wildlife now more than ever. This is what Steve was all about."

Stingrays are normally placid, but when they feel under threat, a sharp, poisonous spine in their tail flicks up.

A public memorial service for Mr Irwin will be held next week. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5338118.stm

[subterranean]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5338118.stm


Taking revenge to wild animal????????????



Stingrays are normally placid, but when they feel under threat, a sharp, poisonous spine in their tail flicks up.

GEEZ!!!!!

[Shannanigan]

Ugh, if they are revenge acts, I just hope that these idiots realize that Steve would absolutely NOT have wanted wild animals to be killed in his name...

And if they are even worse idiots to be collecting the barbs for some stupid reason like claiming its the barb that killed him, then they are just horrible people who need to grow up. The barb broke OFF of the stingray, Steve pulled it out, its sitting on the ocean floor somewhere...

[Virgil]

Taking revenge to wild animal????????????

Hey I think those are the same words Starbuck says to Ahab in Moby Dick.;)



As trite as this might seem...not very many of us choose the way we pass from this life, and Steve Irwin at least died doing something he loved. I know, very cold comfort to his family and loved ones and also his many fans.

That may be true Kathy, but he was only 44 years old when he died. That's my age, and no matter whether it's doing something I loved or not, I still would like to live to old age.

[subterranean]

Hey I think those are the same words Starbuck says to Ahab in Moby Dick.;)

They are? What a cool coincidence ;)

[RobinHood3000]

Idiocy runs rampant in the human kingdom.

[kathycf]

That may be true Kathy, but he was only 44 years old when he died. That's my age, and no matter whether it's doing something I loved or not, I still would like to live to old age.

I think you are misunderstanding some of what I was trying to convey there, but that is alright. :) Perhaps I did not phrase myself as well as I had hoped.

[thevintagepiper]

I think you are misunderstanding some of what I was trying to convey there, but that is alright. :) Perhaps I did not phrase myself as well as I had hoped.

I think we've all been struggling with that of late :(

[subterranean]

Why there was Justin Timberlake in Steve Irwin's memorial show????

[Shannanigan]

maybe he liked Steve?