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So, one of my favorite conservationists and genuine people has died. Steve Irwin, known to most people around the world as the Crocodile Hunter passed away today in an accident while filming a documentary about the sea’s most dangerous creatures off the coast of Australia. A stingray barb pierced his chest and heart.

I remember watching his shows on television many times and having to look away because what he was doing or the danger he was in was too hard to watch. He lived his life like that, on the edge but he enjoyed what he was doing and died doing just that. Below is a video tribute of Steve Irwin’s live originally broadcast on Australian television on September 4, 2006, the day of Steve’s death.

The video contains many great statements from people who personally knew Steve as well as many of the fans that were arriving at the family’s Australian Zoo (there is also a Wikipedia page about the zoo).

The zoo’s home page had the following media announcement this morning:

Media statement – 4 September 2006

Steve Irwin

At 11am today, the 4th September 2006, Steve Irwin was fatally wounded by a stingray barb to his heart whilst filming a sequence on Batt Reef off Port Douglas for his daughter’s new TV series.
Emergency services were called from Cairns Rescue Base and met Croc One, Steve’s rescue vessel at Low Isle on the Great Barrier Reef.
The Croc One crew performed constant CPR during the thirty minute dash to Low Isle, but the medical staff pronounced Steve dead at approx. 12 noon.

His producer and closest friend, John Stainton said on Croc One today, “The world has lost a great wildlife icon, a passionate conservationist and one of the proudest Dads on the planet. He died doing what he loves best and left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind. Crocs Rule!”

Steve’s influence and adoration are far reaching, not only in his own country but across the globe. Already, only a few hours after his death, over 1400 news stories are covering his death on google news. There has been a call for a state funeral in Australia in his memory where he is considered one of Australia’s most well known ambassadors, bringing knowlege about Australia to the world. As noted in the video, many around the world. including myself, don’t know the leaders of Australian government yet know Steve Irwin as a house hold name.

Steve will be missed.

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