Crikey, the Croc Hunter carks it - Internet melts down
News is in that Steve Irwin or "the Crocodile Hunter" bought the big one up in Cairns. Apparently a stingray put a barb through his chest at Batt Reef off Port Douglas, around midday Australian time while Steve was filming a documentary there.This is sad news indeed as he was only 44 and with a family but it sounds like Steve died doing what he loved.
The news of his death are spreading around the Internet with amazing speed though. His Wikipedia entry has already been updated, and Digg is chockers with items about it.
No more "Crikey!" jokes then. I had no idea stingrays were that bad, but Wikipedia says this about them:
Their stinger is a razor-sharp, barbed or serrated cartilaginous spine which grows from the ray's whip-like tail (like a fingernail). It is coated with a toxic venom. This gives them their common name of stingrays, but that name can also be used to refer to any poisonous ray.
Dasyatids do not attack aggressively, or even actively defend themselves. When threatened their primary reaction is to swim away. However, when they are attacked by predators or stepped on, the barbed stinger in their tail is mechanically whipped up, usually into the offending foot; it is also possible, although less likely, to be stung "accidentally" by brushing against the stinger. Contact with the stinger causes local trauma (from the cut itself), pain and swelling from the venom, and possible infection from parts of the stinger left in the wound, as well as from seawater entering the wound. It is possible for ray stings to be fatal if they sever major arteries, are in the chest or pelvic region, or are improperly treated.
Yowch.
Steve Irwin was quite eccentric (in a good way) and here is a collection of quotes from him.
Looks like the news of Steve Irwin's death are blowing the socks off the Internet in Australia and New Zealand. TVNZ's site hardly loads and check out this graph from Akamai:
Talk about a spike!
(The graph gets updated regularly - in case the figure scrolls off, the peak was 209,398 visitors per minute roundabout 1pm on Sept 4, Australian time.)
Update Reuters reports that Irwin pulled the barb out of his chest before losing consciousness and that the whole episode of his death was caught on video.
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Comment by Max Edwards, on 4-SEP-2006 16:38
CRIKEY new doco on ch9 tonight " How Barb broke my heart" starring Steve Irwin
Comment by Tina, on 4-SEP-2006 16:39
Oh my goodness!!
My heart goes out to his family.
I too thought it was a cruel hoax until I googled it.
Comment by Lana, on 4-SEP-2006 16:43
Juha I found your choice of words extremely disrespectful to our much loved Steve Irwin. Your headline is in poor taste, and saying he "bought the big one" is downright disgusting.
I'm appalled.
Comment by Carmi, on 4-SEP-2006 16:43
I pray for his wife and children. Despite his being something of a caricature, it was always a joy seeing someone who loved what he did with such passion.
If only we could all feel the same way about our own careers.
Comment by Glenn, on 4-SEP-2006 16:44
Damn this is going to be worse then when Princess Di died in the crash, I grew up with Steve on tv, Hes known to the world
He will be missed
Comment by hmsolves, on 4-SEP-2006 16:52
that sucks! steve was my dog!
Comment by Andrew, on 4-SEP-2006 16:53
i loved watchin his show and always wanted to actually meet him but now it looks like i can't i hope you rest in peace Steve Irwin and i pray for your family
R.I.P
Comment by bernard, on 4-SEP-2006 16:59
While I am sad for his family, I'm sure that he would rather have died this way than a). in a car crash, or worse b). at the teeth of a croc.
While details remain vague, quite possibly the major cause of death was drowning rather than from neuro toxic poisoning. If this had happend close to shore it may have been less likely to be fatal.
But lets see the end of "how awful" posts etc; he took calculated risks everyday of his life. The thing that made his life so full and to us "scardies" (dont take offence, I dive, but wouldn't wrestle a croc!!) so "amazing" , "fantastic" etc was those risks.
We all thought he was passionate - but a bit mad.
But, he of all people understood those risks.
Its sadder when an unknowing tourist ignores the dont swim signs and gets taken by a croc.
Comment by Michael D Montoya, on 4-SEP-2006 17:05
Let's ask God to take care of our friend. May he rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Michael
San Francisco California USA
Comment by k rené, on 4-SEP-2006 17:08
only the good die young it would seem
Comment by G L Smith, on 4-SEP-2006 17:16
From Tennessee, my family and I loved watching that nut on TV. He had balls of steel. When I think of him, I visualize him holding a large piece of meat while he slowly walking backwards teasing an 11 foot hungry Crocodile. The things he did like that can not be duplicated. He was part of our family as we often spoke of him. We are sick that he died on the job. And his wife and children and going to heartbroken. Oh well. We all have to die one day and it could be tomorrow.
To make myself feel better, I keep telling myself that I knew he was going to get killed one day doing that stuff.
Comment by Lucia Diener, on 4-SEP-2006 17:24
What a shame to see an Australian icon die in such tragic circumstances, thank god we had such a wonderful advocate in our country and across the world for our children and the wildlife to learn from. Steve will be sadly missed by many of us. RIP, and let's hope that other articles will be written in a more professional and appropriate way.
Comment by stephanie, on 4-SEP-2006 17:26
OMG, I just heard on the news of his death. I can't believe it.. My daughter watches his show all the time and I have also become hooked on him. Its going to be so hard to explain it when she wakes up tomoorow. My prayers are with his wife and children. He will be so missed by so many.
Comment by Lucia Diener, on 4-SEP-2006 17:29
What a shame to see an Australian icon die in such tragic circumstances, thank god we had such a wonderful advocate in our country and across the world for our children and the wildlife to learn from. Steve will be sadly missed by many of us. RIP, and let's hope that other articles will be written in a more professional and appropriate way.
Comment by bradstewart, on 4-SEP-2006 17:37
"Juha I found your choice of words extremely disrespectful to our much loved Steve Irwin. Your headline is in poor taste, and saying he "bought the big one" is downright disgusting.
I'm appalled. "
I don't think you could get anymore Steve Irwin than that headline.
Whats really apalling and disgusting is the hypocracy of some people. Why should the death of Steve Irwin be more significant than anyone elses?
While this is surely a sad event, how many of those who are supposedly praying for Steve and his family will be praying for the thousands of people who were murdered today and their families?
The sad thing is the death of a person who was doing something with an obvious risk will get more attention and sympathy than the deaths of the 20 or more innocent people who will be killed in car bombings in Iraq today.
That is the really disgusting thing.
Comment by stephanie, on 4-SEP-2006 17:42
WE LOVE YOU STEVE, YOU WILL BE SORELY MISSED :(
Comment by MikeE, on 4-SEP-2006 17:42
"Steve Irwin was quite eccentric (in a good way) and here is a collection of quotes from him."
Whats wrong with being eccentric, I mean is there a bad way?.. seeing as the theme of comments are to take offense I take offense at that :-P
I'd love to get away with being (more so than now) eccentric!
"Whats really apalling and disgusting is the hypocracy of some people. Why should the death of Steve Irwin be more significant than anyone elses?"
Anyone find it mildly entertaining that this person pretty much condemns people who care that Irwin dies, and then posts himself (showing that it was of at least a passing interest).
Comment by Tom, on 4-SEP-2006 17:46
It's a bloody shame and all. Only 44 and with a small baby at home. What a dummy to waste it all away for silly times with his animals. Too bad by half.
Comment by James Parker, on 4-SEP-2006 17:48
I'm just distraught over this! He is mortal after all. What's as sad is his wife finds out while on a trek, unable to be there for him as often as she always has been, his daughter will be certainly confused and wrecked, and his young son just may never remember much about his dad in person.
Author, as for the title of this article here, and the "bought the big one" statement, you should really have more respect. I realize your statements aren't intended as humor, but I took them that way initially.
Comment by Charlene, on 4-SEP-2006 17:54
TOM, I really think that comment about Steve being a "dummy" was uncalled for. Steve was passionate about his animals as much as was about his family. He used his passion for good, teaching us about animals. He may be quirky but he got people to be passionate about animals too. He did alot of good for alot of people. I bet you are not as passionate about your job as Steve was. He lived every day like it was his last which is more than I can say about alot of people.
Comment by leah, on 4-SEP-2006 17:59
we love you steve, you were a great guy and a hero to your country and most of the world, i grew up with you on the tv @ home , i cant believe your gone , atleast it was doing something you love, im praying for you and your family. rest in peace matey.
Comment by Mary K Hughes, on 4-SEP-2006 18:09
Steve was the BEST at what he did! God Bless him, and his family. He will be remembered and dearly missed. Much Love Steve!
Comment by JASMIN, on 4-SEP-2006 18:24
my heart goes out to his family.It's a terrible tragedy and loss for Australia.He will be missed by all.
Comment by some guy, on 4-SEP-2006 18:46
News is, not news are, ty.
Comment by Deepali, on 4-SEP-2006 19:08
Very unfortunate to lose such a passionate guy..Folks,instead of proving whats right and wrong,lets join our hands together in prayer for him and his family..He doesnt need to prove anything to anyone,his work spoke for itself..You would me missed Steve!!
Comment by dave, on 4-SEP-2006 19:09
what is so shocking about steve irwins death to me ?
because he was real human 100% all the time
he was true in every thing he did he was an individual
as the tears roll down my face
i say fuck off u irwin haters i pitty u
Comment by kieran, on 4-SEP-2006 19:15
awww man not steve, i know that he died doing what he loved but it just seems so terribly untimely, i thought it was just a rumour at school, awww its crazy how sudden it was i mean you'd expect it to end like this but its hard to comprehend someone with such huge influence dieing at the tail of a stingray.
Comment by pete, on 4-SEP-2006 19:15
very sad
but he passed away doing something he loved. Steve was great,lengend.
R.I.P
Comment by b.heijstek, the netherlands, on 4-SEP-2006 19:22
When I heard the news I was shocked. My thoughts and prayers are going out to his family. To his wife and those two young children. I loved Steve, for what he was doing for nature.
I wish his family all the strenghth they need in the future.
Comment by Chucks, on 4-SEP-2006 19:28
The news of this event has rocked Australia alot more than even I thought possible. Been a 16-year-old schoolboy in Melbourne (For the US readers, it is the South East coast of mainland Australia.) the news of his death spread like wildfire throughout my school. The news hit at roughly 2pm (after lunch) and it can be safely assumed that every person knew by 3.
Although I personally did not like Steve Irwin, I am rocked by the news of his death. His family DESERVES every Australian's respect and condolences. May you rest in peace Steve Irwin.
Comment by Susan Macdonald, on 4-SEP-2006 19:39
I'll never forget the amazing footage when Steve rescued a huge crocodile that had been held for 9 years in a drain under a house in Malaysia. When it performed its "death roll" out of pure joy to be in clean water, it brought tears to my eyes. May his passion to explore and protect the planet's wildlife continue be an example for us all to follow. My thoughts are with his wife and family at this sad time.
Comment by Katherine, on 4-SEP-2006 20:01
Being an Australian, and a big fan of Steve's, I not only find the wording of this article (especially the headline), very disrespectful, but to everyone who has posted stupid comments (especially the one near the top saying that "quite possibly the major cause of death was drowning rather than from neuro toxic poisoning", get your facts right first,) considering that Steve has just died today, stop and think for just one second before posting such cruel comments about such an inspiring person.
Comment by Leon, on 4-SEP-2006 21:17
I remember watching the news seeing him for the first time, the were saying he was the next paul hogan, I didnt think mick dundee could be replaced and thought steve was a wally.
After a while the shows grew on me and I had never previously had any interest in wildlife programs till I started watching steves show but steve was the real thing were paul hogan is just some silly yank actor with a funny hat and vest and what the hell is a bloody shrimp?, my kids would probably never watch wildlife programs either if it wasnt for steve, he sure does add some excitement.
Someone posted earlier that he was just another person, well when I heard the news princess di had just died I luaghed and said who cares shes just another person with too much money, When I heard about steve today I was shocked, I thought that guy was mans indistructable link between wildlife and humans, he was a aussie icon and he didnt get that way sitting on his arse or marrying royalty, he earned it himself.
He purposly did dangerous stuff but at the same time tought us all ways to avoid danger when we go out bush. you could almost say he died for us.
Comment by darlene and family, on 5-SEP-2006 03:13
Steve Irwin sure lived a lively and exciting life,he lived life to the fullest.teaching us on his journey to wild and crazy place's we have lost a great teacher.He will be greatly missed.Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends........the palmer family.. Canada. R.I.P.
Comment by Hari Shanker, on 5-SEP-2006 03:39
I used to watch Crocodile Hunter whenever it was on TV. It was informative as well as entertaining. I think the greatness of Steve Irwin lies in the fact that he was able to get the message of conservation and also the beauty of animals. He will remain one of the greatest personalities on TV. Animal Planet is going to be a bit less entertaining to watch without him!
Comment by Mik Muller, on 5-SEP-2006 03:44
I watched Collision Course with my kids Saturday afternoon, US EDT, and then by myself watched ALL the DVD extras last night, 11:00 PM... likely around the time Steve bought it. So hearing the news this morning blew me away. I feel like I just had drinks with him the night before.
I can't say how deeply this is effecting me. I know my kids loved him, and growing up on Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom and other wildlife shows myself, Steve was one of my favorites. I'm sure the stingway caught him completely off guard and surprised him more than anything.
Be well Steve. We'll miss you all.
Comment by Melanie, on 5-SEP-2006 04:06
Mr. Irwin was an amazing person that brought us views that most of us would have never have seen or known about. The World lost a wildlife warrior. There will never be another.
Hopefully they can carry on his legacy for many future generations.
Our prayers are with his family.
Terri,Bindi and Bob ...the world mourns with you!
Comment by Nancy Kesti, on 5-SEP-2006 05:13
I didn't have any problem with your headline, "Crikey, the Croc Hunter carks it". Although we don't use that expression in the US, the headline has honesty and the ring of truth, and one gets the feeling that Steve Irwin would have approved it!
Comment by Barry, on 5-SEP-2006 12:17
Hearing this news about me bloke, is disturbing. But I think the saddest part is that it seemed so senseless. I mean...for Steve-o to go at the hands of a stingray, is sorta like hearing that Linda Lovelace choked to death on a lifesaver.
Anyways...
here's to you ole' bloke. have a gargle for me to!
Barry
Comment by russell, on 6-SEP-2006 09:00
When Americans think of Australia we think of Steve Irwin wrestling a 30 foot crocodile in the mud while he makes jokes about how dangerous the animal is.
The entire world mourns your loss of a great man.
Comment by Gabrielle Nardone, on 6-SEP-2006 15:10
I am so very saddened to hear of Steve Irwin'[s death.
He taught us all to love all types of creatures be it small or large, furry or fins.
I loved his energy and all the wonderful things he taught us about wild life!
I will truly miss him and do wish my deepest sympathy to his family and thoses that had the honor to have known him in person!
I hope your up there Steve enjoying the animals and being the wonderful guide you were down here!
Bless you! miss you already
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Comment by chiefie, on 4-SEP-2006 16:09
I can't believe this until I did Google News search.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=127458
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=1304112006
Sounds pretty real to me now and CRIKEY! That's a damn!