Steve Irwin Dead

"Steve Irwin Dead"

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200609/s1732439.htm

Naturalist and celebrity Steve Irwin, a.k.a. "the Crocodile Hunter" died September 4th of a stingray barb to the chest while diving near Port Douglas, filming a documentary.

By the time a helicopter with paramedics arrived, it was too late.

Irwin was born in Victoria in 1962 and died at the age of 44. He grew up with a family of reptile enthusiasts which lead to him taking over the family business and turning it into the Australia Zoo. In 1992, he made the first series of the Crocodile Hunter. He became instantly famous once the show aired in the U.S. Steve let behind his wife, Terri, and two children, Bindi and Bob.

It is believe that this tragic accident happened Irwin swam to close to the animals, coming onto of a stingray, the frightened animal threw its barb up and pierced Irwin through the heart. This is a one in a million type of death, since as of 1996, only 17 people worldwide have died of due to stingrays, 2 of those were in Australia, 1 of which happens to be Steve Irwin. It is also believe that the attack on Irwin is the only fatality from a stingray to ever be captured on film.

Steve had little chance of survival from that fateful incident with the stingray. It is thought that the combinations of toxins and the puncture wound from the barb caused Irwin to have a heart attack, most of the damage was inflicted by tears to arteries in his heart. Some doctors believe that if Steve hadn't immediately pulled the barb out, he may have been able to be saved. The sting ray's barb is serrated and caused more damage being pulled out than when being jabbed in by the animal.