# Steve Irwin (the "Crocodile Man") reported dead in a marine accident **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [September 4, 2006, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369 "2006-09-04T04:36:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/41 "2006-09-04T12:09:29Z")
Aw, jeez. I saw the headline on Yahoo, and immediately came over here to get the straight dope on what happened. My first thought (after “cripes, he was only 44”) was “Oh man, his kids are so young, too.” ☹ ---
**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, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/42 "2006-09-04T12:15:03Z")
When I heard the news “Steve Irwin killed by Stingray,” my first thought was an automobile accident. The idea of anything other than a Corvette never entered my mind. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/43 "2006-09-04T12:22:04Z")
gma reported that his wife may not know yet. reports are that she is hiking in tasmania. i hope they are able to get to her before she hears it elsewhere. i’m figuring that they would know she left x and was heading for y, and intercept her. ---
**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, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/44 "2006-09-04T12:38:57Z")
This is also being discussed in [MPSIMS](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=386787). R.I.P. Steve ☹ ---
**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, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/45 "2006-09-04T12:40:20Z")
**rocking chair** , I posted a link in that other thread to a more recent news article which says she now knows, as do his children. See post 48 of that thread for the link. ---
**Author:** ![BooBoo316](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@BooBoo316](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BooBoo316)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/46 "2006-09-04T12:51:04Z")
:eek: ☹ Damn, that sucks. My wife and I really liked his shows and he seemed like a decent fellow, even if he was a little touched in the head. We used to joke that he would film his own grizzly death one day, not quite so funny today. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/47 "2006-09-04T12:55:33Z")
I apologize in advance if [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Okp5FTKOB4) is in poor taste. But I just felt like sharing it. ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/48 "2006-09-04T13:46:03Z")
You gotta admire anybody with that much passion and enthusiasm. I, too, am really sadder about this than I ever thought I’d be. ---
**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, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/49 "2006-09-04T13:48:00Z")
Crikey. This hurts. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/50 "2006-09-04T13:50:21Z")
It’s a real shame. I’m shocked but not surprised. If any celebrity was going to be killed in the line of duty, I would have called Jackie Chan before Steve Irwin, but Steve still played it close to the edge. ---
**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, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/51 "2006-09-04T14:00:16Z")
[Here](http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s960998.htm) is a link to a transcript of the interview I mentioned earlier. Overseas Dopers may want to check the home page as Denton is arguably the best interviewer on earth and has interviewed lots of people. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/52 "2006-09-04T15:08:34Z")
Irwin, more than anything, was passionate about preservation and conservation. Say what you will about his goofy enthusiasum and nonchalant handling of his subjects, but he inspired a lot of kids (and adults) to become more aware of the plight of animals worldwide. We need peple like him. RIP, Steve. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/53 "2006-09-04T15:19:10Z")
[QUOTE=blondebear] Say what you will about his goofy enthusiasum and nonchalant handling of his subjects… [/QUOTE] I liked his goofy enthusiasm. To be sure, it lent itself to parody. (My first reaction upon hearing the news last night was ‘Crikey!’ And who can forget the claymation bits on one show or another, or the ‘I’m going to put my thumb up its bum!’ bit on _South Park_?) But goofy enthusiasm can be an effective teaching tool. Who would you rather watch: Mr. Wizard, or Bill Nye the Science Guy? My favourite weather reporter was Dr. George Fishbeck. > [@blondbear](#): > > he inspired a lot of kids (and adults) to become more aware of the plight of animals worldwide. We need peple like him. Indeed. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/54 "2006-09-04T15:33:13Z")
Major bummer. RIP Steve. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/55 "2006-09-04T16:26:25Z")
He did lend himself to parody, but he recognized it and could even laugh at himself. He cared very much for what he did, and had fun doing it. Like many others, I was put off my his feeding his crocs while holding his infant son Bob, but he still do a lot of good by highlighting (and bringing the message to future adults) the message that nature was beautiful and had a place, even when it wasn’t cute and fuzzy. StG ---
**Author:** ![2lazy2pee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/4bbf92/32.png) [@2lazy2pee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2lazy2pee)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/56 "2006-09-04T16:49:09Z")
I’m in shock over this. There had been a thread about whose celebrity death would impact you the most. I’m sure a lot of us are feeling the impact of Steve Irwin. I never would have seen this coming at this time. Steve took a lot of risks, but they were calculated ones. I’m sure he knew that stingrays have caused few fatalities and I’m sure he did not feel he was in any danger. He wasn’t handling it in any manner, just swimming above it. It might have been spooked by his shadow and thought Steve was a predator. I hope his children carry on with his work for conservation. He was working on a TV show for his daughter, Bindi Sue. I really do hope that in about fifteen years we’ll be seeing her and brother Bob, along with Terri, taking us off on incredible adventures and furthering the preservation of habitat for wildlife. ---
**Author:** ![gouda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c77e96/32.png) [@gouda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gouda)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/57 "2006-09-04T17:19:14Z")
I heard about him on the radio on the way home from work. It was quite upsetting for sure. _Damn_! I always enjoyed watching his shows. I can only hope I have that much enthusiasm for my job when I’m that old. RIP, Steve. Gonna miss ya. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/58 "2006-09-04T19:22:30Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] But goofy enthusiasm can be an effective teaching tool. Who would you rather watch: Mr. Wizard, or Bill Nye the Science Guy? [/QUOTE] I’d much rather watch Attenborough than Irwin, any day. But it’s a bummer he’s dead, for sure. Toxic barb to the heart can’t be a good death by any standards, even if he was doing what he loved. I must go and re-read the _Sluggy Freelance_ “Demon Hunter” parodies in his memory. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/59 "2006-09-04T19:35:53Z")
[QUOTE=MrDibble] I’d much rather watch Attenborough than Irwin, any day. [/quote] Australian interviewer Andrew Denton described Irwin as a combination of Sir David Attenborough and the Tasmanian Devil cartoon. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369/60 "2006-09-04T19:39:22Z")
[QUOTE=GIGObuster] Australian interviewer Andrew Denton described Irwin as a combination of Sir David Attenborough and the Tasmanian Devil cartoon. [/QUOTE] Heh. Surprisingly, many of the journal papers on that turtle which passed away recently that was thought to have been collected by Darwin list Steve Irwin as a co-author. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-irwin-the-crocodile-man-reported-dead-in-a-marine-accident/371369.md?page=4)