Steve Irwin with wife and daughter

Tragic Loss of Steve Irwin - Wildlife Conservationist
"Crocodile Hunter" Death Extremely Rare, Caught on Film
article by
Stephanie Peatling in Sydney, Australia
for National Geographic News

September 5, 2006

An initial postmortem examination has confirmed that Australian environmentalist, zoo owner, and television personality Steve Irwin, the "Crocodile Hunter," was killed by a stingray's venomous barb pierced his heart.
Police investigating the incident told a packed press conference this morning that his death was the result of a highly unusual accident.
"We're not going into the detail, but there's definitely no surprises," a police spokesperson said. "Everyone knows how he died."
Caught on Film
A coroner will begin an examination today and will consider video footage of the attack, which happened at about 11:00 a.m. local time on Monday as Irwin swam over Batt Reef, off the Australian state of Queensland .
Irwin's friend, director, and producer, John Stainton, who was on Irwin's boat Croc One when the attack happened, says it is too early to release the footage of his friend's fatal encounter to the public.
The stingray attack was caught on film during the production a new television special Irwin was making with his eight-year-old daughter, Bindi Sue. The documentary was to have been screened in the United States next year.
The footage shows Irwin pulling the stingray's barb out of his chest before losing consciousness, Stainton says.
"It's a very hard thing to watch, because you're actually witnessing somebody die … and it's terrible," Stainton said.
"It 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." article by
Stephanie Peatling in Sydney, Australia
for National Geographic News