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Death of Steve Irwin

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Death of Steve Irwin
Tributes left in Steve Irwin's memory the day after his death
A tribute left in Steve Irwin's memory the day after his death
Date4 September 2006; 18 years ago (2006-09-04)
Time2:26 p.m. AEST (UTC+10:00)
LocationBatt Reef, Port Douglas, Queensland
CausePierced in the chest by a short-tail stingray

On 4 September 2006, Australian zookeeper, conservationist, and television programmer Steve Irwin was fatally injured by a stingray barb while filming in the Great Barrier Reef. The stinger pierced his chest, penetrating his thoracic wall and heart, causing massive trauma.[1][2] He was at Batt Reef, near Port Douglas, Queensland, taking part in the production of the documentary Ocean's Deadliest. During a lull in filming caused by inclement weather, Irwin decided to snorkel in shallow waters while being filmed in an effort to provide footage for his daughter Bindi's television program.

Irwin's death is the only fatality from a stingray captured on video, although it has not been released to the public, and is one of the few human deaths from stingrays.[3][4][5][6] Production was completed on Ocean's Deadliest, which was broadcast in the United States on the Discovery Channel four months after Irwin's death. The documentary was completed with footage shot in the weeks following the accident, but without including any mention of Irwin's death,[7][8] aside from a tribute to Irwin at the end.[9]

Circumstances

Main article: Ocean's Deadliest

While swimming in chest-deep water, Steve Irwin approached a short-tail stingray, with an approximate span of two meters (6.5 ft), from the rear, in order to film it swimming away. He initially believed he had only a punctured lung; however, the stingray's barb pierced his heart, causing him to bleed to death.[10][11] Crew members aboard Irwin's boat administered CPR and rushed him to the nearby Low Isles, where medical staff pronounced him dead.[12][13][14]

Irwin's widow, Terri, stated in an interview with Access Hollywood aired on 11 January 2014 that the documentary contains no footage that was shot the day he died, and that the footage of his injury and death had been destroyed. Justin Lyons, a cameraman for the documentary, has said that although footage of the incident does exist, he is against its release.[15] Philippe Cousteau Jr. filmed the remainder of the documentary weeks after Irwin's death.

Reactions

Australia Zoo employees mourning Irwin

News of Irwin's death prompted reactions around the world. Then–Australian Prime Minister John Howard expressed "shock and distress" at Irwin's death, saying that "Australia has lost a wonderful and colourful son".[16] Queensland's then-Premier Peter Beattie remarked that Irwin would "be remembered as not just a great Queenslander, but a great Australian".[17] The Australian federal parliament opened on 5 September 2006 with condolence speeches by both Howard and the Leader of the Opposition, Kim Beazley. Flags at the Sydney Harbour Bridge were lowered to half-mast in honour of Irwin.[18]

In the days following Irwin's death, reactions dominated Australian online news sources,[19] talk-back radio programs,[20] and television networks.[21] In the United States, where Irwin had appeared in over 200 Discovery Network television programs, special tributes appeared on the Animal Planet channel, as well as on CNN and major TV talk shows.[22][23] Thousands of fans visited Australia Zoo after his death, paying their respects and bringing flowers, candles, stuffed animals and messages of support.[24][25]

Funeral and memorial services

The Crocoseum at Australia Zoo, where Steve Irwin's memorial service was held

Family and friends of Irwin held a private funeral service in Caloundra on 9 September 2006.[26] Irwin was buried in a private ceremony at Australia Zoo later that same day; the grave site is inaccessible to the zoo's visitors.[25] Prime Minister Howard and Queensland Premier Beattie had offered to hold a state funeral, but Irwin's family declined the offer; his father said that he would have preferred to be remembered as an "ordinary bloke".[27]

On 20 September, a public memorial service, introduced by Russell Crowe, was held in Australia Zoo's 5,500-seat Crocoseum; this service was broadcast live throughout Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Asia, and it is estimated to have been seen by over 300 million viewers worldwide.[28] The memorial included remarks by Prime Minister Howard; Irwin's father Bob and daughter Bindi; his associates Wes Mannion and John Stainton; and celebrities from Australia and around the world (including Hugh Jackman, Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Kevin Costner, Russell Crowe, David Wenham, Kelly Ripa and Larry King).[29] Australian music star John Williamson sang "True Blue", which was Irwin's favourite song. In a symbolic finish to the service, Irwin's truck was loaded up with gear and driven out of the arena for the last time as Williamson sang. As a final tribute, Australia Zoo staff spelled out Irwin's catchphrase "Crikey" in yellow flowers as Irwin's truck was driven from the Crocoseum for the last time to end the service.

Stingray abuse

In the weeks following Irwin's death, at least ten stingrays were found dead and mutilated on the beaches of Queensland, with their tails cut off, prompting speculation as to whether they might have been killed by fans of Irwin as an act of revenge, although, according to the chairperson of the Queensland fishing information service, anglers regularly cut the tails off accidentally caught stingrays to avoid being stung.[30]

Michael Hornby, a friend of Irwin and executive director of his Wildlife Warrior fund, condemned any revenge killings, saying that "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."[31]

In an interview with Larry King, Bindi stated that she loves stingrays and does not feel bitterness towards them.[32]

References

  1. ^ Crocodile Hunter (30 May 2012). "Discovery Channel Mourns the Death of Steve Irwin". Animal.discovery.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  2. ^ "Steve Irwin: Google Doodle celebrates 57th birth anniversary of Steve Irwin, the crocodile hunter". Times of India. 22 February 2019. Archived from the original on 22 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Widow: 'Croc Hunter' thought he'd die young". CNN. 27 September 2006. Archived from the original on 28 September 2006. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  4. ^ "Stingray Deaths Rare and Agonizing". CNN. Reuters. 4 September 2006. Archived from the original on 21 September 2006. Retrieved 4 September 2006.
  5. ^ "Steve Irwin death film given to wife". Reuters. 21 January 2007. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  6. ^ "Video of 'Croc Hunter's' death destroyed". United Press International. 2 January 2007. Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  7. ^ "Crocodile Hunter's final stunt with sea snake". The Daily Telegraph. UK. 30 December 2006. Archived from the original on 3 May 2007. Retrieved 15 April 2007.
  8. ^ "Crocodile Hunter's Last Show Completed". International Business Times. 6 January 2007. Archived from the original on 7 January 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2007.
  9. ^ Blumenstock, Kathy (21 January 2007). "Steve Irwin's Last Adventure Ocean Documentary With the 'Crocodile Hunter' Is Paired With a Tribute". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  10. ^ Selby, Jenn (10 March 2014). "Steve Irwin's final words: Cameraman present at death opens up about deadly stingray attack for the first time". The Independent. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  11. ^ Bond, Nick (9 March 2014). "Cameraman Justin Lyons reveals Steve Irwin's final words: 'I'm dying'". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  12. ^ "Croc Hunter Irwin killed by stingray". The Age. Australia. 4 September 2006. Archived from the original on 22 October 2006. Retrieved 4 September 2006.
  13. ^ "Farewell to a larrikin adventurer, killed in his prime". The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 September 2006. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  14. ^ Rory Callinan (4 September 2006). "Death of a Crocodile Hunter". Time. Archived from the original on 13 February 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2006.
  15. ^ Lynch, Rene (10 March 2014). "'Crocodile Hunter' cameraman: Footage of Steve Irwin death is private". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  16. ^ "'Crocodile Hunter' killed in sea incident". RTÉ News. 4 September 2006. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  17. ^ "Irwin didn't intimidate stingray". The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 September 2006. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  18. ^ "Harbour Bridge flags lowered for icons", News Corporation (news.com.au), 19 September 2006.
  19. ^ "Croc Hunter news consumes the web". The Age. Melbourne. 5 September 2006. Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2006.
  20. ^ Fidler, Richard (4 September 2006). "Tributes flow for Steve Irwin". 612 ABC radio. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2006.
  21. ^ "Yahoo7 TV Tribute to Steve Irwin". Seven Network.
  22. ^ Reuters Editorial. "Business & Financial News, U.S & International Breaking News | Reuters". U.S. Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2021. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  23. ^ The Sydney Morning Herald "Aussie 'Superman' brings tears to US chat shows" Archived 2 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ "Beattie flags Steve Irwin award, national park". ABC. 5 September 2006. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2006.
  25. ^ a b "'Crocoseum' tribute set for Irwin". BBC. 13 September 2006. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2006.
  26. ^ Robson, Lou (10 September 2006). "Family says private farewell". The Sunday Mail. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2006.
  27. ^ "Father rejects state funeral for 'ordinary bloke' son". The Age. Australia. 7 September 2006. Archived from the original on 7 September 2006. Retrieved 7 September 2006.
  28. ^ "300 Million People To Watch Steve Irwin Memorial". ecanadanow.com. 19 September 2006. Archived from the original on 26 October 2006. Retrieved 13 September 2006.
  29. ^ "Thousands mourn 'Crocodile Hunter'". CNN. 20 September 2006. Archived from the original on 20 September 2006. Retrieved 20 September 2006.
  30. ^ "Stingray deaths under investigation". Archived from the original on 20 September 2012.
  31. ^ "Irwin fans 'in revenge attacks'". BBC. 12 September 2006. Archived from the original on 21 October 2006. Retrieved 12 September 2006.
  32. ^ "Bindi Irwin reveals her TRUE feelings about stingrays!". New Idea. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
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