He was swimming off the Low Isles at Port Douglas filming an underwater documentary when the tragedy occurred.

It is understood he was killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest and reportedly into his heart .

His new documentary was aimed at demystifying the stingray.

He was a remarkable man.

Ya...just heard the news. One article said they had never heard of anyone getting killed like this. So sad..that guy was such a riot. I genuinely really liked him and his family.

When I lived on Curacao, a man was stung by a stingray when entering the water on the Northcoast. (you have to pick a high wave there and jump from the rocks) They had to put him in a bathtub with ice to get his temperature down.
He survived.
Maybe Steve died because he got stung in/near the heart.

The article said it pierced his heart like a bayonette! That is what makes this whole thing even freakier.

That is just so, so sad.

All I can think is that he must have been trying to hold the ray. What a horrible, awful thing to happen.

talk about dying with your boots on

the crocs down under are probably "high-fiving"...

I just saw it too on the news. They are not confirming if he was holding the ray or not, just that it stung him in the chest right over the heart and that help was not able to get to him fast enough. This is so very sad. He did so much for habitat and animal protection. I am very sad indeed.

I wonder if the stingray had a croc tattoo

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1531446,00.html

I didn't know what a bull ray was, but it's just another name for a southern stingray.

A pic:
http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/bullray.html

I just found an article on-line. If you want to read it: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1531446,00.html

But it states: "Irwin happened to swim over a large ray which, startled, whipped its barbed tail upwards into his chest."

Hi Kathy! Seems like we found the same article.

Tribs, yes...I was trying to find out what kind of ray and thought it must be some exotic and dangerous version, but no....it's just our common stingray. They will have new respect from me.

I seem to recall being told that stingrays can only sting as a reflex action when pressure is applied to their backs. Don't know if that's true...

I always figured the poisonous snakes would be what got him in the end, or maybe a blue ringed octopus, but never a stingray.

Jake

My heart goes out to his children... what a huge hole will be left in their lives. He was such a large character.

My dream vacation was to scuba the Great Barrier Reef and visit the croc hunter at the Australian Zoo. Now, it's not going to happen. We're just so sad. His wife Terry was hiking in Tasmania and it took several hours to notify her. How terribly, terribly, sad. We were big fans. Bindi and Bob, will at least have thousands of hours of video to see what a spectacular man their father really was. The animals/oceans have lost a real benefactor.

I just saw an interview with one of Australia's political leaders who said that Steve had put Queensland and Australia on the map. He stated that people in Amercia didn't know who the prime minister of Australia was, but that they knew who Steve Irwin was.

It was also reported that at one time Austraila felt he was an embarassment, but that changed over the years with his popularity...which happened in America first. Now they say he is being mourned on the level of Princess Diana.

I actually got a tear in my eye watching some of the video on Cnn.com of people coming and leaving flowers at the Australian Zoo that him and his family have run for years.

Sad news, indeed. He was an extraordinary individual and will be missed.

My heart goes out to his wife and children - a sad day indeed!

I was so sad when I read this morning that he had died. My kids loved watching him on TV when they were younger. He will be missed and my prayers go out to his family.

Wow...I'm shocked. So very very sad.

I got the chance to visit his zoo (sadly didn't get to see him, though) 4 years ago. It is a beautiful facility - the animals come first in respect to enclosure size, etc. I think this was easier for him since his zoo was privately funded (ie: he owned and budgeted it himself) rather than fighting for state/federal funds.

My friend Sheila (no pun intended) works at the Melbourne Zoo and got a chance to meet Steve a few years back. Her pre-meeting opinion (as a lot of Aussies shared) was that he was a "showboat", but after talking with him one on one she found out how truly dedicated to the animals and environment he was. Her opinion went 180 degrees! He was one of the few people out there to sink the majority of his earnings (greater than 80% from what I heard) back into the animals and environment.

The world has lost a true champion for the animals/environment.

Such a sad loss of a great and truly entertaining character.

...and such a freaky way to go too!

At least he died doing what he enjoyed.

He will be missed.

it is sad. but it also shows that we can't take our safety for granted. while diving we are in a foreign element and can't let our guard down...no matter how safe it seems.

it always worried me when he would be so close to the alligators and crocodiles. those things have been around for millions of years with little, if any, evolution of their brains. they know how to attack and eat and that's about it. they can't be tamed and never get used to people, except as a possible meal.

still, to think that he was killed by a stingray is unbelievable. how many of us have been close enough to touch rays and other potentially dangerous sea creatures and never, ever, considered the possible danger.

again, it's very sad

I heard the "breaking news" while watching Grays Anatomy last night....so sad, I've been thinking about the ramifications all day. I hope someone will carry on with his conservation work.

Sorry to hear this but... putting it in perspective.. This man loved to take risks (for whatever reason). Sometimes the risks he took were in fact quite stupid! Do you remember when he held his one month year old child over a crocodile? Frankly it was an absolutely irresponsible stunt as he was posing for the cameras.. Thankfully his sons weren't with him in the water.

I'm with Jake, I thought the snakes would get him, or maybe a poisonous toad of some sort.... but how horrible to die when he probably thought he was pretty safe. But Aud said what I was thinking, he died doing what he loved.

Thoughts and prayers to his family.

Very Sad. He may have done things that were controversial (sp?) and offensive to some - but then again, don't we all at some point? He definately loved the animals and loved his work. He died doing what he loved.

My heart goes out to his wife and young children.

My kids are taking this harder than I expected. (my daughter wouldn't believe me until I showed her the news story). We went to a waterpark yesterday (here in NJ) and heard lots of kids (10-16 years old) in various lines and around the wave pool talking about Steve - this generation grew up with him and he opened their eyes to many animal species that they had never seen before. With the hundreds of hours of footage he has left a wonderful legacy his family can be proud of. (Discover Channel is planning a marathon soon).

This occurred while snorkeling and they even have it on videotape. I hope this never makes it onto the internet.

We were talking about it a lot at the BBQ last night. Truly a legend has been lost. Think of all the risks he took, but think more of the edcuation he provided about a lot of animals and creatures. It is weird to think that a stingray got him. Michael and I saw a small batray about 20 feet below us when we were snorkeling Catalina a few weeks ago, it had it's barb sticking straight up...it was weird, I even asked Michael if he had ever seen anything like it...really didn't know that if they felt boxed in they would "attack."

My thoughts are with his wife and kids...just tragic...

I didn't hear about it until this morning- I am truly mourning this champion of the environment- he did so much to educate us...yes even in his death he reminds us that when WE go into the animals environment we are only visitors.....and must have respect for what occurs. We can never blame the animal, only ourselves. I bet the dives at Stingray city in the Caymans are quiet this week.

It truly saddens me as well. What a good man, someone who was doing something to help people understand the different animals on our planet. My biggest fear is that this will turn people into one of two things - the stingray haters/killers OR the people that are so afraid of stingrays that they will never do things that they would like to do - scuba dive or snorkel for instance.

My thoughts to are with his wife and children. I know what it's like to lose a father and a husband but of course the world didn't know either of these men.

It is really sad.I never thought those animals could be so dangerous,those who practice those water sports gotta be really carefull.

"Crikey!"

He never was much of an ocean guy.

He'll be missed at Paris Isl, Ft Benning, Camp Shelby, and all the other US military bases where he loved to go and torture our troops and have a bit of fun. I'm sure the AUS boys will miss him as well...

"Crikey!"

What dumb luck.

I just got this from an Australian friend.....Thanks Ange xxx

THE CROCODILES ARE CRYING
Endless visions fill my head - this man - as large as life
And instantly my heart mourns for his angels and his wife
Because the way I see Steve Irwin - just put everything aside
It comes back to his family - it comes back to his pride

His animals inclusive - Crikey - light the place with love!
Shine his star with everything he fought to rise above
The crazy-man of Khaki from the day he left the pouch
Living out his dream and in that classic 'Stevo' crouch

Exploding forth with character and redefining cheek
It's one thing to be honoured as a champion unique
It's one thing to have microphones and spotlight cameras shoved
It's another to be taken in and genuinely loved

But that was where he had it right -I guess he always knew
From his fathers' modest reptile park and then Australia Zoo
We cringed at times and shook our heads - but true to natures call
There was something very Irwin in the make up of us all

Yes the more I care to think of it - the more he had it right
If you're going to make a difference - make it big and make it bright!
Yes - he was a lunatic! Yes - he went head first!
But he made the world feel happy with his energetic burst

A world so large and loyal that it's hard to comprehend
I doubt we truly count the warmth until life meets an end
To count it now I say a prayer with words of inspiration
May the spotlight shine forever on his dream for conservation ...

My daughter broke the news to me - my six year old in tears
It was like she'd just turned old enough to show her honest fears
I tried to make some sense of it but whilst her Dad was trying
His little girl explained it best...she said "The crocodiles are crying"

Their best mate's up in heaven now - the crocs up there are smiling!
And as sure as flowers, poems and cards and memories are piling
As sure as we'll continue with the trademarks of his spiel
Of all the tributes worthy - he was rough...but he was real

As sure as 'Crikey!' fills the sky I think we'll miss ya Steve...goodbye

RUPERT McCALL 2006

a very fitting tribute to a 'Great Bloke'

Thanks, Roy, that is a beautiful tribute! Tears are flowing here.

Roy, I too have tears...what a wonderful poem.

Thanks Roy, an awesome tribute to a larger than life guy!

Animal Planet is airing Steve's memorial service without commercial interuption on Tuesday night at 9:00pm on Sept. 19. at the Crocosium of Australia Zoo.

Great memorial service. Steve truly was a great bloke - a friend to my Australian uncle and family in Queensland, admired by many. However, there is a lesson to be learned here; I think we all know what that lesson is. I've also been in the water with hundreds of Rays (Stingray City, Grand Cayman). Rays are non-aggressive marine animals and are not typically a danger to humans. However, as with all wildlife, they must be approached with caution. Remember, there is no need to fear these animals. Just be careful and don't get too close unless you are qualified to do so and know what you are doing. This applies to all marine life.

God Bless Mate.