Steve Irwin Dead

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Posted by ryuzaki0 on Sunday September 3, 2006 @05:37PM from the fighting-muffin-to-the-chest dept.

mkosmo writes "News.com.au is reporting that Steve Irwin was killed in a freak accident while filming one of his well known documentaries. Surprisingly it wasn't a crocodile, it was a sting-ray."

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why did it kill him? by ftsf · 2006-09-03 17:42 · Score: 5, Interesting

from wikipedia:

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.
what did he do to cause a stingray to kill him? TFA says it was a freak accident. but was it really? what were the stingray's intentions?
1. Re:why did it kill him? by TheDugong · 2006-09-03 17:59 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  What do you reckon? I would bet serious money on him doing the usual lets annoy a wild animal so I can look cool and have my own TV channels. But guess what, humans cannot move anywhere near as fast as fish underwater. I am a pretty experienced scuba diver and have seen more stingrays than I can remember. I have been slammed by a big (~2M disc diameter) stingray in an aquarium (a mate sneaked some frozen fish into my pocket :) ), it was absolutely hilarious, far from scary. They are simply not agressive. They filter sand for little crustacean and fish fodder. You would have to seriously provoke them for them to do more than just swim away. I wonder if the film footage (there is bound to be some) will ever surface.
2. Re:why did it kill him? by Minstrel+Boy · 2006-09-03 18:10 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Sting rays can be big critters, and when they whip that tail the barb goes where it goes. Friend of the family took one through the knee decades ago - that's through the knee JOINT, from posterior lower to anterior upper leg. Three months in the hospital (infection) and never walked thereafter without a limp. People who work in/around the shallows are much more afraid of sting rays than shark attack - when you've got an eight-inch spike through you, it doesn't help much to say it was "inadvertent" rather than "intentional".
  
  On the bright side, Terri's now available! ;)
  
  KeS
3. Re:why did it kill him? by Duds · 2006-09-03 19:39 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  When Dale Earnhart died, I didn't hear anybody say "Ha! Only a fool would drive in Nascar!"
  
  You didn't?
  
  Plus Dale Snr wore an open faced helmet simply because he was too arrogant to wear a proper one like everyone else. PLENTY of people had a go at that after he died, although as I understand it, in that specific case it wouldn't have made huge difference.
A real shame by Centurix · 2006-09-03 17:45 · Score: 4, Interesting

I only live 30 minutes from his Australia Zoo at Beerwah and have watched him perform the croc stuff a couple of times and it was very entertaining.

I remember trying to take a photograph of my kid at the petting zoo while his kid was in there and I was politely asked not to. Mind you, it was just after the whole 'dangling the baby in front of the baby eating crocodile' incident, I can understand the paranoia at the time.

--
Task Mangler
Fastest Travellling News by Heir+Of+The+Mess · 2006-09-03 17:46 · Score: 5, Interesting

This is the fastest I've ever seen news hit the front page on slashdot.

In fact since this news broke an hour ago I've received 1 phone call, 4 SMS's and 6 e-mails about it. A coworker came running to tell me about it and 88+ news items about it have appeared so far on Google News. Just goes to show that people really care about Steve Irwin.
With that kind of influence it makes you wonder what he might have achieved if he hadn't died.

--
Australian running a company that does C# / C++ / Java / SQL / Python / Mathematica
I'm surprisingly upset by svunt · 2006-09-03 18:26 · Score: 4, Interesting

The first time I saw Steve Irwin, I cringed horribly (I'm Australian), but he got to me. I can honestly say I've never seen a happier person, with so much energy & such a good, innocent heart. I was mocking him a few years ago, mercilessly. Now, I'm feeling kind of weepy. RIP Steve, and my heart goes out to the Irwin family & friends. Thanks on behalf of the animals :)
Thanks Steve by martin · 2006-09-03 18:47 · Score: 3, Interesting

For your unending enthusiasm, commitment and teamwork (how many people to catch a croc!) in bringing folk a little nearer to those wonderful animals.

You'll be missed by both the many who never met you, and by those who loved you.

To your family, may your God comfort you and protect you during these days of mourning.

RIP.
Re:Thanks Steve by Dasher42 · 2006-09-03 19:01 · Score: 5, Interesting

I'm a big fan of Attenborough too, but I think Irwin's show reached a different kind of person, and everybody could stand to have more appreciation of nature. Really, sneaking a nature show into a stunt show is what he did, and it's really sad that the odds caught up with him. Steve Irwin's off-camera work showed he really cared about wildlife, and it's really sad to lose someone like that.

A stingray barb to the chest - ouch, that's a painful way to go. If I'm right, only one person has ever survived that.
Re:He was cringeworthy but... by renegadesx · 2006-09-03 19:15 · Score: 3, Interesting

He earnt my hatered spreading that stereotype, but i learned to live with it, its just like alot of people i know stereotyping americans as arrogant fat self loving over patriotic wankers. Every country has their stereotypes I guess

--
Make SELinux enforcing again!
Re:He was cringeworthy but... by simong_oz · 2006-09-03 20:36 · Score: 4, Interesting

You know I used to think exactly the same as you - I also cringed that the world thought this was what Australians were like. But the more I saw of the bloke the more I realised it wasn't an act, it was genuine, unbridled enthusiasm. He wanted people to be as fascinated as he was, his enthusiasm was magnetic, and real. He wanted to teach all this stuff to kids. He wanted people to respect these (dangerous) wild animals the way he did. He never held back, he always smiled. And for all those reasons and more, he completely turned me around - I am more than happy that the world thinks this represents Australians at their core - genuine, enthusiastic, and a good mate.

RIP Steve.

--
"Because it's there." - George Mallory, when asked why he wanted to climb Mt Everest, March 18, 1923 (New York Times)
Re:oblig by cloricus · 2006-09-03 23:11 · Score: 5, Interesting

If you watch the interview by Andrew Denton (Enough Rope) you will see what sort of person he was. He wasn't some one who chased profits as his primary motivation and really did love the work. The shows were only a side to everything else like Australia Zoo and reserves. I would much rather that people looked up to him, even if you think he is just putting on a tough act, than say Bill Gates. Just my opinion though.

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I ate your fish.
Re:oblig by Skater · 2006-09-04 01:45 · Score: 3, Interesting

This is true. Popular Science did an article where the author kept a diary of the risks he was encountering and would rate them, then they showed the diary to risk experts and got comments. What you said is exactly correct: people downplay the risks of, say, riding in a car, because they do it so often, while they worry a lot more about the risks of flying - despite the fact that flying is far safer than riding in a car.