This really upset me…

…I’m up right now writing my script as I mentioned before and I’m taking a break to find out that The Crock Hunter Steve Irwin was killed by a sting ray…

Here’s the sad news from CNN.com:

Stingray kills ‘Crocodile Hunter’
POSTED: 1:34 a.m. EDT, September 4, 2006

SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) — Steve Irwin, the Australian TV presenter known as the “Crocodile Hunter,” has died after being stung in a marine accident off Australia’s north coast.

Australian media reports say Irwin was diving in waters off Port Douglas, north of Cairns, when the incident happened on Monday morning.

Irwin was killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest, according to Cairns police sources. Irwin was filming an underwater documentary at the time.

Ambulance officers confirmed they attended a reef fatality Monday morning off Port Douglas, according to Australian media.

Queensland Police Services also confirmed Irwin’s death and said his family had been notified. Irwin, 44, was director of the Australian Zoo in Queensland.

He is survived by his American-born wife Terri and their two children, Bindi Sue, born 1998, and Robert (Bob), born December 2003.

Irwin became a popular figure on Australian and international television through Irwin’s close handling of wildlife, most notably the capture and relocation of crocodiles.

Irwin’s enthusiastic approach to nature conservation and the environment won him a global following. He was known for his exuberance and use of the catchphrase “Crikey!”

But his image suffered a setback in January 2004 when he held his then one-month-old baby Bob while feeding a crocodile at his Australian zoo.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer expressed his sorry Monday and said that he was fond of Irwin and was very appreciative of all the work he had done in promoting Australia overseas.

In 2003, Irwin spoke to the Australian Broadcasting Corp.’s Australian Story television program about how he was perceived in his home country.

“When I see what’s happened all over the world, they’re looking at me as this very popular, wildlife warrior Australian bloke,” he said, the ABC reported.

“And yet back here in my own country, some people find me a little bit embarrassing. “You know, there’s this… they kind of cringe, you know, ’cause I’m coming out with ‘Crikey’ and ‘Look at this beauty’.”

I can’t believe that he’s gone. My heart goes out to his wife, daughter and little son. I hope that the Zoo continues to flourish, and that people don’t forget about him. Thank you Steve for years of entertainment. You will be missed.

–Marcos

10 thoughts on “This really upset me…

  1. flammable says:

    I actually read a comment somewhere that he was just being Steve Irwin…and we probably should have expected something like this.

  2. socramforever says:

    but still, its a shock that the one person who we all thought would never die, did die, he was like Captain Kirk, but even he died in the movies.

  3. flammable says:

    Ah, true. If William Shatner died…oh, that would be horrible.

    Well, not that Steve Irwin’s death wasn’t horrible, it’s just, it’s a little more expected. You know, since he’s playing with all kinds of potentially dangerous wildlife on a daily basis.

  4. socramforever says:

    expected yes, but seeing that he never did die, it was a complete shock, he truly escaped death more times than people can count…

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