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news.com.au: Steve Irwin "It appeared that he was killed by a sting-ray barb that went through his chest, Queensland Police Inspector Russell Rhodes said"

THE Crocodile Man, Steve Irwin, is dead.

He was killed in a freak accident in Cairns, police sources said. It appeared that he was killed by a sting-ray barb that went through his chest, Queensland Police Inspector Russell Rhodes said.

He was swimming off the Low Isles at Port Douglas filming an underwater documentary and that's when it occurred. Ambulance officers confirmed they attended a reef fatality this morning at Batt Reef off Port Douglas.

Mr Irwin was killed just after 11am, Eastern Australian time. It is understood he was killed instantly.

A source said Mr Irwin was already dead when his body was brought onto the Isle. A source said Mr Irwin's body was being airlifted to Cairns Hospital in North Queensland for formal identification.

An Emergency Services Response Management spokeswoman said they received a call about the tragedy at 11.11 am, Australian Eastern Standard Time. The response unit left in a helicopter for the Batt Reef at 11.18am and arrived shortly after. Mr Irwin was pronounced dead at the scene immediately, the spokeswoman said.

More soon

[web]http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20349534-952,00.html[/web]

That's too bad. He seemed like a nice guy, and experinced with animals.

Rest In Peace.

Does the fact that I laughed at the 'sting-ray barb through the chest' line make me a horrible person? I mean, if you play with fire you're bound to get burned.

In all seriousness, that's really too bad. He was an entertaining guy.

Horrible, horrible way to die, and I feel for his wife and young children. I guess nobody's invulnerable.

I'll never forget he and Conan tearing apart the stryofoam croc in the kiddie pools, that was some funny shit.

CNN.com is now confirming it

[spoil][web]http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/09/04/australia.irwin/index.html[/web][/spoil]

Sad news. I always enjoyed his shows. Like Topeka said the guy pretty much took his life in his hands everyday dealing with crocs and other dangerous animals, but he certainly loved his work and was always an extremely cheerful fellow. RIP, Mr. Irwin.

Yes.

And so am I.


That's what you get when you bring a croc hunter to a stingray fight.

I love how this is the top news on CNN's website. Reminds me of better times in the world.

The incident was caught on video too.

Can't wait to see the baby's-eye-view of this on YouTube.

the cameraman just talked about what was on the film. Steve was floating about a foot above the ray. It got spooked because it saw the cameraman infront of it and Steve above it and went into a defensive posistion and slung it's tail strait up. It punctured his heart and possibly gave him a cardiac arrest. The camerman said Steve then grabbed the barb and pulled it out himself and then was unconscious about a minute later. Died on the trip back.

They're planning on giving him a State funeral if that's what his family wants!

Crikey!