Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin dead???

I just had a news alert pop up on my com saying he died in a marine accident. It didn't open when I clicked it though. Has anyone seen anything about this???

This is what I found. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117...rom=public_rss

Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin deadBy staff writers
September 04, 2006 02:14pm
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THE Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, is dead.

He was killed in a freak accident in Cairns, police sources said today.

It is understood he was killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest.

He was swimming off the Low Isles at Port Douglas filming an underwater documentary when the tragedy occured.

Ambulance officers confirmed they attended a reef fatality this morning at Batt Reef off Port Douglas.

Irwin's body is being flown to Cairns.

It is believed his American-born wife Terri is trekking on Cradle Mountain in Tasmania and is yet to be told of her husband's death.

Irwin - known worldwide as the Crocodile Hunter - is famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchcry "Crikey!".

The father of two's Crocodile Hunter program was first broadcast in 1992 and has been shown around the world on cable network Discovery.

He has also starred in movies and has developed the Australia Zoo wildlife park, north of Brisbane, which was started by his parents Bob and Lyn Irwin.

Tributes have already started pouring in for the larger-than-life character.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who used a photograph of his family at Australia Zoo for his official Christmas card last year, hailed Mr Irwin for his work in promoting Australia.

Irwin was heavily involved in last year's "G'Day LA" campaign.

"The minister knew him, was fond of him and was very, very appreciative of all the work he'd done to promote Australia overseas," a spokesman said.

A Tourism Queensland spokeswoman said the death was shocking and paid tribute to Irwin's "enormous contribution" to his adopted state.

Louise Yates said it was impossible to quantify how much Mr Irwin had meant to the Queensland tourism industry.

"I don't think we could even estimate how much he brought us through his personality and his profile and his enthusiasm about Queensland," she said.

"It would be difficult to estimate how much he was worth. And it would be difficult to underestimate."

She said Irwin had been a larger-than-life ambassador.

"It's not just what he brought but what he took with him when he travelled, his passion."

Australia Zoo, on southeast Queensland's Sunshine Coast, employs more than 500 people and attracts thousands of visitors every day.

But Ms Yates said it would be "unfair and unjust" to put a dollar value on Irwin's worth to the state, because of how much he had given.

With The Courier Mail and AAP

Wow, I meet with Steve for a few hours in 2000 when he was filming in Texas on rattlesnakes. I have to say he was a wonderful guy full of energy and his heart always seemed in the right place. He will be missed.

I liked his shows and thought he was a pretty great guy when it came to conservation and education. I always thought he would die between the jaws of a croc though. Who would have thought it would have been a stingray that did him in........

I always figured he would die by a venomous snake since he was always careless with the way he held them for filming of his show.

Unreal. Who would have figured a sting ray would have gotten him.

He will be missed. I feel bad for his wife and kids.

This is a sad day for the reptile world for sure!! He was a awesome guy in our hobby, and in life, I can't keep from thinking about how good he was with his wife and children. He really seemed to be a good guy for sure. What a loss...

Insane, I agree with the above posts, who would have thought a stingray. If things go the way I plan on and become a zoologist, Ive already made peace with the possible ways I would die...Never would have thought about stingrays...

I didnt even know the guy, and even I feel bad. I didnt realize how much his life has influenced mine till now. The saying is true, you never realize what you have untill its gone...

Danger, Danger, Danger!

Wow,

What a loss, my condolences go out to his wife Terri and his two children Bindi Sue and Robert. This is a real loss. Steve Irwin was a true enthusiast for animal conservation.