Steve Irwin (crocodile hunter) dies..........

[labdogs42]

I was shocked when I heard this news yesterday. I truly enjoyed watching Steve on all of his shows on Animal Planet. I even made my husband take me to see Steve's movie in the theatre when it came out! The world has lost an amazing person. My heart goes out to his family and his extended family at Australia Zoo. I always wanted to go see him at his zoo and I am sad that I'll never get to do that. But in Steve's honor, I will still plan to visit his wonderful zoo and see the legacy he has left for all of us. I watched all the shows on Animal Planet last night. He was such an amazing man. He will be missed.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I still feel terrible about this. I have twin sons who are 19yo and a 22yo dd. You can't imagine how much of a part of their growing years the crocodile hunter was a part of. He influenced their feelings about nature and our world around us. They were fascinated watching him handle snakes and lizards which my kids always had one of at least.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Condolence books to allow people to send a message of sympathy to the family of Steve Irwin are now available at Parliament House and the Queensland Executive Building in Brisbane.

People wanting to acknowledge the loss of Steve Irwin can also log onto http://www.qld.gov.au/announcements/steve_irwin.html to send a message which will be passed onto the Irwin family.

Thank you for that. I just finished it.

 

[Deb in IA]

Very very sad. And terribly ironic. We went to Stingray City off Grand Cayman in July, during our Disney Cruise, and the tour guides there said that stingray strikes are defensive in nature. They are intended to cause pain, but are rarely fatal.

When Steve Irwin's Crocodile Hunter show first came on the air in 1992, I didn't know what to make of him. He was so over-the-top, that it was hard, for me at least, to tell if he was for real. But I soon realized that it was just his personality, his enthusiam, and his zeal for wild animals that made him so unique. And although he has done some controversial things, he has had an unquestionable influence on so many children (and, I suspect, their parents) who loved his shows.

So tragic for his family. He obviously loved his wife and children very much. I hope he gets a state funeral. He has been such a good representative of Australia, and certainly one of the most well-known Aussies around the world.

 

[Nutsy]

Thank you for that. I just finished it.

You're welcome..

 

[Nutsy]

I hope he gets a state funeral. He has been such a good representative of Australia, and certainly one of the most well-known Aussies around the world.

I believe Terri is making the decision today as to whether she will go with a State Funeral or not. There is also talk of a memorial service for Steve at one of our football grounds.

 

[Buckalew11]

I'm thinking he probably wouldn't pick a state funeral for himself but I am hoping that for all of his fans who loved him around the world, maybe she'll choose to do a state funeral. I guess it doesn't really matter, but he was so loved and respected that it would do his memory well to go that route. I certainly understand if she chooses not to have one though. God Bless her and her children. Bindi is at a horrible age to go through this. here is no good time, of course, but at age 8, little girls still want to "marry their daddies". heck, I am 41yo and losing my dad and I am not handling it so well. My heart goes out to her and Bob and Terri.
I wonder how long they've been apart. I know it was at least 3 days. How sad.

 

[kejoda]

I'm thinking he probably wouldn't pick a state funeral for himself but I am hoping that for all of his fans who loved him around the world, maybe she'll choose to do a state funeral. I guess it doesn't really matter, but he was so loved and respected that it would do his memory well to go that route. I certainly understand if she chooses not to have one though. God Bless her and her children. Bindi is at a horrible age to go through this. here is no good time, of course, but at age 8, little girls still want to "marry their daddies". heck, I am 41yo and losing my dad and I am not handling it so well. My heart goes out to her and Bob and Terri.
I wonder how long they've been apart. I know it was at least 3 days. How sad.

I agree Brenda. Terri needs to do whats best for her and the kids. The best way the rest of us can honor Steve is to donate to animal charities.

My fear is that the film will get leak. I would hate for that to get out. That just not something anyone needs to see.

 

[lclark0621]

My fear is that the film will get leak. I would hate for that to get out. That just not something anyone needs to see.

I also fear that film being leaked onto the internet. Once it is on the net, it is there forever. And the thought of his kids seeing it one day while they are just browsing the internet is horrible.

It is his wife's choice how much, if any of the footage he filmed on this trip is released.

The footage of the stingray striking him should be destroyed.

 

[Nutsy]

I'm thinking he probably wouldn't pick a state funeral for himself but I am hoping that for all of his fans who loved him around the world, maybe she'll choose to do a state funeral. I guess it doesn't really matter, but he was so loved and respected that it would do his memory well to go that route. I certainly understand if she chooses not to have one though. God Bless her and her children. Bindi is at a horrible age to go through this. here is no good time, of course, but at age 8, little girls still want to "marry their daddies". heck, I am 41yo and losing my dad and I am not handling it so well. My heart goes out to her and Bob and Terri.
I wonder how long they've been apart. I know it was at least 3 days. How sad.

It was a week.. they had not seen in each other in a week.. Terri and the children were on holiday down in Tassie and Steve was off filming.

Apparantly they had not spoken to each other recently either.. John Stainton said on tv last night that Steve neve owned a mobile phone.. Terri had sent an SMS to John's phone but Steve never got it and they had missed a couple of other cals from Terri too apparantly.

He also said that Steve was not a wealthy man.. every cent he earnt he gave back.. at one stage he apparntly sent all the toys from the retail shop at the zoo to the chidren of the soliders who were over in Afghanstan I think it was. He was just so generous, and would often ask John if he could borrow $10 so he could buy a toy for Bindi.

 

[Nutsy]

I also fear that film being leaked onto the internet. Once it is on the net, it is there forever. And the thought of his kids seeing it one day while they are just browsing the internet is horrible.

It is his wife's choice how much, if any of the footage he filmed on this trip is released.

The footage of the stingray striking him should be destroyed.

I agree about the stingray barb getting Steve and I really don't think they would ever show that.. What they probably will show is Steve swimming with the bull rays.

But I certainly hope the end of Steve's life is not ever shown.. that would be so low and so cruel.

 

[Planogirl]

I just sent my message. It's so hard to express feelings appropriately in this case.

 

[momrek06]

I sent my message.


Jay Leno just did a lovely little tribute to Steve. He said some wonderful things about Steve and then had a film clip of all the fun the two of them had when he would appear on the Leno Late Show.

 

[crazee4mickey]

Thank you for posting the link to send our sympathy.

The news yesterday was a terrible shock to everyone in our family as watching Crocodile Hunter was a family affair. Our second son, like so many other children, absolutely worshipped Steve Irwin several years back.
He wanted so desperately to meet him....
When I heard the news it was like being kicked in the stomach, I kept thinking that they would announce there was a mistake and it really wasn't him who had died.
So very sad for his family........

 

[Nutsy]

Thank you for posting the link to send our sympathy.

The news yesterday was a terrible shock to everyone in our family as watching Crocodile Hunter was a family affair. Our second son, like so many other children, absolutely worshipped Steve Irwin several years back.
He wanted so desperately to meet him....
When I heard the news it was like being kicked in the stomach, I kept thinking that they would announce there was a mistake and it really wasn't him who had died.
So very sad for his family........

I know exactly how you feel. It's like a bad dream. They keep showing him on tv and all the near misses and enthusiam etc... and I think yeah that's Steve, then they play more footage of him.. no sound from Steve, just lovely music and that's when it hits home that he's no longer with us.

 

[CPM]

I sent my message.

Jay Leno just did a lovely little tribute to Steve. He said some wonderful things about Steve and then had a film clip of all the fun the two of them had when he would appear on the Leno Late Show.

I saw that. It was a great tribute to him.

 

[mking624]

An article I just found...the family has declined the state funeral.
____________

Irwin's dad speaks of losing his 'mate'

Steve Irwin's father says he is determined to carry on his son's work.

Bob Irwin has spoken publicly for the first time since his son was killed by a stingray while diving off Port Douglas in far north Queensland two days ago.

Surrounded by media and those who had come to pay their respects, Mr Irwin held an impromptu press conference at Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast.

Hundreds of floral tributes and fan messages acted as a backdrop and family friend John Stainton was by his side.

Mr Irwin described how he was struggling to come to terms with his son's death.

He explained how he and his son had joked about death, but not taken unnecessary risks.

He said their relationship was as mates, rather than father and son.

"I'm a lucky, lucky guy that I've had the opportunity to have a son like Steve," he said.

Mr Irwin said the family had declined the offer of a state funeral.

He said his son would not have wanted a large funeral.

"The state funeral would be refused, because he's an ordinary guy, he's just an ordinary bloke," he said.

"He wants to be remembered as an ordinary bloke."

Mr Irwin also called on the media to respect the family's privacy.

He said his daughter-in-law Terri is coping as well as can be expected.

 

[catsrule]

Thanks for all the info, nutsy.

 

[Nutsy]

The State Funeral has been in question all along.. although we all feel Steve deserved a State Funeral, we all suspected that Terri and the family would opt out of it.

They want a private funeral that any normal bloke would have and Steve most definately would not want all the fuss and bother that goes with a state funeral.. that is just so not him.

Roberr Irwin senior hopes to be able to step in and take over the reins until such time as Bindi and Bob are of an age where they can take over which won't be that long for Bindi according to John Stainton.

We just had a wonderful hours tribute.. a celebration of Steve's life on tv here and gosh it really was wonderful. Some of the pranks he pulled and scrapes he got himself into.. we were laughing it was soooo funny


So, wonderful to remember the good times like that and there are documentarires still to be shown (so Steve is not going anywhere anytime soon).

 

[PixieDust32]

Thanks for the info Auriel.