# "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin killed by stingray - **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 4, 2006, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370 "2006-09-04T04:43:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/61 "2006-09-04T14:43:02Z")
When I heard the news, my first thought was an [automobile](http://www.taberg.info/motortraffar/2004/traff_5/bilder/Corvette-stingray-rod-fr-st.jpg) accident ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/62 "2006-09-04T14:46:30Z")
[QUOTE=Ruffian] Henson died of pneumonia, which seemed so odd and avoidable. What otherwise healthy adult man dies of pneumonia these days? [/QUOTE] At the time, people with AIDS would sometimes get, and die of, pneumonia as a side effect, and \*that \* would be listed as the cause of death to avoid the homosexual stigma. Not that I have any idea if Jim Henson was an example, but it did and does happen. Yes, Steve Irwin acted the clown, but he had a purpose for doing so, and achieved it wonderfully well. Good on yer, mate. ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/63 "2006-09-04T14:52:09Z")
Well, yeah, which is why I clarified with what “otherwise healthy” adult dies from pneumonia. Henson by all accounts did not have AIDS (that’s the first I’ve ever heard mentioned with his name, in fact): > [@](#): > > From the Wikipedia article: > > Jim Henson died of pneumonia caused by severe Streptococcus A bacteria [citation needed]at the age of 53 on May 16, 1990. > > At the funeral many people were moved to see Kermit sitting on the coffin with a sign saying ‘I lost my voice’. On the DVD commentary for the movie Love Actually, director/writer Richard Curtis describes another episode at Henson’s funeral: I have heard that his death was ultimately from overworking himself and going to a hospital when it was too late. Again, what a waste. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/64 "2006-09-04T14:59:40Z")
Sad sad news. I liked him. My thoughts to Terri, Bindi Sue and Bob. RIP Steve. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/65 "2006-09-04T15:14:30Z")
The only celebrity deaths that have affected me like this were John Ritter and John Candy. Rest in peace man, you did good things. ---
**Author:** ![UKCatGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a88e57/32.png) [@UKCatGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UKCatGirl)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/66 "2006-09-04T15:58:15Z")
Did anyone catch the line in the article **astro** posted that said there had only been 17 stingray fatalities worldwide? Unbelievable that such a larger than life guy would be taken out by such a freak accident. I really hope the video never gets out, it’s just too sad. ☹ At least he did get to make a mark on the world and taught many people to care for animals that they might not have even known existed if it weren’t for his popularity. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/67 "2006-09-04T16:05:46Z")
[QUOTE=UKCatGirl] Did anyone catch the line in the article **astro** posted that said there had only been 17 stingray fatalities worldwide? Unbelievable that such a larger than life guy would be taken out by such a freak accident. I really hope the video never gets out, it’s just too sad. ☹ … [/QUOTE] According to the link in [lavenderviolet’s thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7743308&postcount=25), stingray deaths are very common, though more from the freshwater variety since they come into more frequent contact with humans. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/68 "2006-09-04T16:05:51Z")
For those of you who might be interested, if you join [My Animal Planet](http://my.animal.discovery.com/MyDiscovery/login.html?loginmsg=logout&c=7), you can post your condolences in their [Crocodile Hunter](http://community.discovery.com/eve/forums/a/cfrm/f/1401993295) forums. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/69 "2006-09-04T16:10:05Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] As it apparently also did to the stingray. I can’t help it, when I saw the headline I thought he was killed by [this.](http://www.justbicycles.com/images/web/Stingray%20Red.jpg) [/QUOTE] Isn’t there a line in _Fear and Loathing_ that goes something like, “We were delayed en route when a pedestrian was killed by a [stingray](http://www.taberg.info/motortraffar/2004/traff_5/bilder/Corvette-stingray-rod-fr-st.jpg).” To be honest, when I first saw this thread last night, I thought it was a joke. When I saw the news articles, I thought it was a hoax. I mean, who dies from a stingray? ☹ with apologies to Annie Xmas ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/70 "2006-09-04T16:18:37Z")
Am I the first to admit I think he was kinda hot, in a “bumptious pool-boy” way? ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/71 "2006-09-04T16:18:40Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] According to the link in [lavenderviolet’s thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7743308&postcount=25), stingray deaths are very common, though more from the freshwater variety since they come into more frequent contact with humans. [/QUOTE] As you said though, this is mostly with the freshwater variety. It could be that saltwater stingrays are less likely to react in this fashion. In addition, the article also said, “Stingray injuries almost always occur in inexperienced and/or uniformed people grappling with live, terrified rays, or those people unlucky enough to step on one while wading.” According to the news reports, Steve Irwin was swimming by a stingray, but wasn’t grappling with one. ---
**Author:** ![UKCatGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a88e57/32.png) [@UKCatGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UKCatGirl)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/72 "2006-09-04T16:27:33Z")
**Boyo Jim** , I hadn’t seen that other thread, maybe there was some qualifier around the statement that the journalist left out of the article, as it was not a direct quote from the woman, who is Surf Lifesavers national marine stinger adviser Lisa-Ann Gershwin. Maybe she meant within a certain time period, or just cases where the barb pierces the heart? I’ll have to look up some more information. Either way, still a very sad thing, because if it had stung him somewhere else he would have at least had a better chance of surviving. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/73 "2006-09-04T16:29:20Z")
[QUOTE=Princhester] Was he? I wasn’t aware of that. What work did he do? [/QUOTE] Well far much to list but he and his wife have used lots of their own money to buy tracts of land that are to remain animal habitats all over the world. [QUOTE=Princhester] Was he? What cite do you offer? I know he was a first class self-publicist. [/QUOTE] It seems the professors that worked with him held him in high regard from all that I have heard on the radio and TV. [QUOTE=Princhester] I know he was a first class self-publicist. [/QUOTE] And for that he deserves our contempt even in death. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/74 "2006-09-04T16:45:19Z")
I recall watching “Crocodile Hunter,” and there were definitely times when he would leave the animals alone. I think Steve knew better than any of us which ones could handle bothering and which ones needed to be left alone. The world is going to miss a conservationist with his unbridled enthusiasm and passion for sharing our world with the rest of the critters. ---
**Author:** ![Dracona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea5d25/32.png) [@Dracona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dracona)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/75 "2006-09-04T16:52:56Z")
What a heartrending loss. Irwin’s death will certainly spring to mind during my more quiet and introspective moments for years to come. The world truly is a bit less pleasant for having lost Steve. There aren’t many people that I can say that about. The bright side, though, is that the man was so well-loved that I am certain he has left behind a viable legacy. I have no doubt that his family will do their best to continue his work as best they can. RIP Steve. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/76 "2006-09-04T16:56:15Z")
Yes, he was crazy. But in a good way. He loved animals most people consider unloveable. I have to respect that, even if he was more than a little over-the-top. I feel really bad for his family. ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/77 "2006-09-04T16:58:53Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] And wiki’s already been updated! well, I lost a lot of respect for him when he interacted with that croc while holding his infant daughter. He went the way he wanted to go, I suppose. Sad for his family, though. [/QUOTE] It was his son, who is now three and will most likely not remember him. It’s sad, because he was a cool guy in a lot of ways. The two most inane things that will now be said about him: 1. He wasn’t just an actor or attention-grabber; he really knew what he was doing around dangerous animals. 2. He died doing what he loved to do. Yes, if I had a choice, I’d want to be stung in the heart by a giant stingray. I gave first aid to a person stung on the top of a foot by a stingray (divers keep Adolph’s Meat Tenderizer in their first aid kits for this) and it was excruciatingly painful for her. I hope his death was quick, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/78 "2006-09-04T17:01:20Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] I think Steve knew better than any of us which ones could handle bothering and which ones needed to be left alone. [/QUOTE] Or maybe the rest of us are scared for a reason? ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/79 "2006-09-04T17:06:38Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] I think Steve knew better than any of us which ones could handle bothering and which ones needed to be left alone. [/QUOTE] Or maybe the rest of us are scared for a reason? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370/80 "2006-09-04T17:13:37Z")
[QUOTE=JillGat] Or maybe the rest of us are scared for a reason? [/QUOTE] NO, I THINK IT’S PRETTY SAFE TO SAY HE KNEW HIS STUFF. THANKS, THOUGH. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crocodile-hunter-steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/371370.md?page=5)