Just heard about this on the news. Apparently, he was stung in the chest by a stingray.

I can't say I asm surprised. I always thought that some day an animal he was teasing would really retaliate one day. Stringrays would have been low down on my list of animals I thought would do it.

When I saw this post, I thought at first it must be a new urban legend or even some kind of strange joke. Steve was a living legend around the world, and seemed to be indestructable when it came to handling dangerous creatures.
His familiarity with them looked both casual and careless at times, but really there was enormous skill and experience being applied. Huge crocodiles, deadly snakes and insects, poisonous fish, etc, were all routinely handled closely and with clear affection by Steve. His comments on them could have been describing contestants in a beauty contest, which to Steve maybe that's what they were.
The world has lost one of the primary ambassadors for wildlife, and our deepest sympathies must go to his wife Terri, and his two children.

Well said, Aramis. The thing I really liked about him was his passion for what he did even if I didn't agree with it some of the time and that he wanted Australian slang to be kept alive.

He was one of a kind.
I am sad for his Wife and their two young Children.
He had such a passion for what he did and he shall be missed.
PF

He was a strange man (by that I mean strange to me!), but he certainly seemed to enjoy what he did, and seemed to love the animals he was with. I am sure a lot of people will miss him

Nine story

Well, I am sorry the man is dead and I do feel sorry for his grieving family, even though I cannot say I was an admirer of his.

He was one of those celebrities whose public persona was not his real personality - to me, he was a poseur and quite shamelessly self-promoting.

However, I do admire his stance on conservation and wildlife issues.

Watching interviews with some of his friends they have all said "what you see is what you get" He's the same ratbag off screen as on you just can't help liking him.(my words)

Crikey! He'll be missed.

He left this world doing something that he loved and was passionate about.
RIP Steve and sympathy to Terri, Bindi and Bob who have lost a much loved husband and father before his time.

It's funny. Steve wasn't somebody I admired, I just thought he was a pretty likeable bloke even a bit of a goose. When I heard he died, I felt really sad and had a bit of an empty feeling. RIP mate!

I think, from the general American perspective (if there is such a thing), Irwin personified that typical Aussie stereotype that many have here: slightly wild, extremely adventurous, "do-it-'cause-it's-there", enjoy life ~ all that. I'm sure he didn't represent all Australians, of course, but he was a very popular fellow over here. I personally saw some of his 'stuff' as a bit reckless, not to mention over-the-top, but he was entirely likable. I was sorry to hear the news indeed and feel extremely sorry for his survivors.

My wife and I didn`t care for his programs but we both felt saddened at his untimely demise. We both mentioned whilst talking about him today how full of life and sheer enjoyment of life he seemed. If there is some sort of life after death I like the idea of him and Noah meeting up and discussing the problems associated with taking care of animals.

I too was not a fan - mainly because his voice annoyed me so much - but as a SCUBA diver I was realy suprised that it was a singray as they are rather shy and skittish. All the stingrays I have encountered in 14 years of diving, have all swum away from the divers as soon as they approach. It is very sad but at least he died doing what he liked to do best.

Deepest sympathy to his wife Terri and their 2 children.

Earlier this year my wife and I took a couple of weeks holiday on the Red Sea coast of Egypt, and went snorkelling many times on the reefs which, unlike the Great Barrier Reef, are quite close to the shore. Sting rays while not 'abundant' were very common - and quite beautiful too with a very pale pink-ish skin covered with bright, almost luminous large blue spots. We swam very close to them, and I even got some good underwater photos, but I had no idea they were so deadly.
Steve of course, couldn't resist handling every potentially dangerous creature he came across, and maybe he went too far with this particular ray. I'd certainly like to learn the full story of this final deadly encounter.
A friend of mine belongs to an organisation called 'The Arachnid Society", whose motto is 'We Too Need Protection". This motto isn't of course for the society members, but for the creatures they represent! The members concentrate their efforts on preserving all sorts of potentially deadly creatures, and many keep them as pets. At one of their exhibitions we attended, they had a variety of poisonous snakes and insects, and allowed us to handle them which isn't difficult provided you are gentle!
Steve devoted his life to increasing our knowledge of creatures often seen as repugnant, and the world will be a poorer place without him. Apparently he used much of his large television income to purchase tracts of Queensland rainforest, in order to preserve it from development, so effectively putting his money where his mouth was! His legacy will be his bubbling enthusiasm for the many creatures which aren't cuddly and don't have fur or feathers, and undoubtedly his films will be shown for many years to come.

Yes, it's all terrible, but I felt it coming his way for years, because of his sometimes reckless attitude in dealing with wild animals. Like everybody else, I'm amazed it wasn't a croc or deadly snake of some kind to take him out, rather than an underwater meeting with a relatively obscure animal like the Stingray.

Steve was my favourite ' cartoon Aussie ' I suppose. I never warmed up to his [ what appeared to me as] bravado and bigger than life camera presence. A little of that stuff goes a long way with me, I'm afraid. But his love and passion for the animals in his care was charming and inspiring -one couldn't help but like him on that level, at least. My foremost emotion over this is frustration...the accident need not have happened with a bit more planning and a lot less showboating. Now his two little ones will pay the un -nesessary, life altering price for his need to perform and constantly expose himself to danger.

You know, I was reading the article copago put in a link to, and first I was shocked, then confused. It said all this happened just after 11 am today, and I'm thinking, it's just after 11 am right now. Then I remembered that this happened in Austrailia, and I live in the U.S. But anyway, I think it is sad news.

He might be gone, but wouldn't you like to pass this way--doing exactly what you were so passionate about. And that's the way I would like it to go.

It is a pretty good way to go, doing what you loved. I don't know many Australians personally, to me I considered him the typical Australian...which I hasten to add, is not a bad thing He will be missed by a lot of people

I don't think anybody thought that Steve Irwin was going to die from old age; it seemed almost a given that he was going to go out in an accident with a wild creature of some sort. It does seem strange that it was with a stingray, though, and not a croc. When I heard the news this morning, I felt a sort of numbness that is hard to describe because even though I thought he was an interesting character and was fun to watch, I wasn't a huge fan. Stingrays like to lay on the bottom of the ocean and a few years ago, my stepdaughter unknowingly stepped on one while playing in the waters in the Gulf of Mexico. The stingray whipped up its' barbed tail and stabbed her in the leg, which was very painful. I pray that Steve didn't suffer and my condolences go out to his family and friends.

I agree with you jarsma63 I would like to die doing something fun and not die of some disease or old age. Bet Steve is happiest now.

Isn't it interesting how the deaths of certain celebrities affects us more than others, even if we're not their biggest fans? I find myself really saddend and sort of disturbed by his death. Maybe because he was young (my age--eek), maybe because of the young loving family he left behind.

For me I think that he just displayed such a sheer joy of living, that it seems such a waste. But at least the time he did have was lived to the fullest.

Here's a silly thing--I keep thinking about how sad Jay Leno must be. Now there's a guy with serious "animals' personal space" issues. I cringe every time I see him run up and give a tiger a big hug or something. One of these days he's going to get his face bitten off.

I honestly don't believe he was as reckless and full of bravado as many people seem to think. He was simply an expert at his job, and in control of every situation - except of course this last one. Naturally the type of job he did involved considerable risk, but the expertise lies in recognising that risk and dealing with it accordingly. Most of us would either die or suffer severe injury doing what Steve did, but we'd probably die even quicker if we had to pilot a fighter plane, or even work as a steeplejack, fireman, or deep sea fisherman without proper training and skill. Steve had the right attitude and aptitude for his job, and was also a great TV personality who will be missed by millions.

I guess, for me, the recklessness I was referring to came with the dangling of his baby over that croc - and I'm quick to say, too, that that one incident should not define the man overall (even though I rather made it sound that way).
So many celebrated people get that public admiration for their adventurous lifestyles, so Mr. Irwin is no different in the end of it. I also need to add that I wasn't entirely aware of all the work he did of an environmental/wildlife preservation nature. What with the massive TV coverage today I'm learning quite a lot about him. A most interesting man!

I'm sure Steve knew precisely what he was doing in the baby scenario. I've seen a few talks by croc keepers in Queensland, who like Steve seemed to treat large croc's with apparent disdain. It was explained to us on one occasion, that crocodiles require a certain depth of water to launch themselves at a potential target on land. If the water isn't deep enough, the croc can't get sufficient leverage from its tail swing, and cannot therefore launch itself out of the water. Although it looks extremely dangerous, in reality the keepers have the situation under control - but as the saying goes 'Don't try this at home'!