“Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin’s Death Caught on Tape

The tragic death of Australian personality and TV show host Steve Irwin was captured on tape. Irwin, better known as The Crocodile Hunter, pulled the barb of a bull stingray out of his chest with his hands before he succumbed to the fatal blow.

John Stainton, Irwin’s producer and close friend, viewed the tape before handing it over to the authorities. Stainton was quoted by The Guardian Unlimited as saying "It's a very hard thing to watch because you're actually witnessing somebody die and it's terrible." Stainton went on to say that the tape “shows that Steve came over the top of the ray and the tail came up and spiked him here [in the chest] and he pulled it out and the next minute he's gone. That was it - the cameraman had to shut down.”

After the tape was reviewed by Queensland police, a spokesperson for the police department told reporters “There is no evidence that Mr. Irwin was intimidating or threatening the stingray.” The spokesperson was then quoted by National Geographic as saying “We're not going into the detail, but there's definitely no surprises. Everyone knows how he died.”

Steve Irwin’s death as a result of the stingray attack is considered an ultra-rare occurrence, and Irwin’s death may be only the third stingray-related death in Australian waters ever. Dr. Bryan Fry, the deputy director of the Australian Venom Research Unit, was quoted by Reuters as saying “It's not the going in that causes the damage, it's the coming out where those deep serrations kind of pull on the flesh, and you end up with a very jagged tear which is quite a pronounced injury.”

As news of Steve Irwin’s death traveled around the globe, tributes have been offered and messages of condolence have been expressed throughout the world. Jay Leno, host of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”, a show that hosted Irwin 14 times, called Irwin “one of the show’s all-time favorite guests.” Leno went on to say that Steve Irwin “represented the face of Australia. He stood for all that was good for animals, conservation and the environment. He will be sorely missed.”

US President George W. Bush led a wave of tributes to the Crocdile Hunter. A White House spokesperson was quoted by The Herald Sun as saying “The President and Mrs Bush are saddened by the news of his passing and their prayers are with his wife and two young children.”

In Canberra, Australia, the Federal Parliament paused to honor the memory of Steve Irwin with a moment of silence. Australian Prime Minister John Howard said “"What you saw was what you got. He was a talented showman. He used his massive talents to support causes and to achieve goals that he greatly believed in. The greatest reward his memory can have has been the remarkable outpouring of affection and grief towards this remarkable individual.”

Steve Irwin became hugely popular throughout the United States, gaining the title “The Crocodile Hunter” on Discovery’s Animal Planet channel. After landing a cameo role in Dr. Dolittle 2, Irwin went on to do his first and only feature film, The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course. He’s known best for his trademark expression “Crikey!”, though it earned the ire of some in his native Australia.

Steve Irwin was 44 years old. He is survived by his wife, Terry Irwin, and his children, Bindi Sue and Robert Clarence.

[Additional Sources: Guardian Unlimited, National Geographic, Reuters, Herald Sun]