The action man died this morning, stabbed by a Sting Ray through the chest whilst diving off the Queensland coast. Crikey !

That's awful ... so young, 44 years old! Of course, he did so many risky things; I remember watching him antagonize rattlesnakes on one program, and saying to my husband that one day one of these creatures will be the end of him.

How sad for his wife and children. But we have to say that while he was alive, he really LIVED!!! Thanks for all the entertainment and laughs, Steve ...

Yes a big shock to all Aussies. Apparantly filming an underwater doco off Pt Douglas near the GBR. A very rare accident and he will be very much missed. A real Aussie Hero.
His wife is in Cradle Mountain, Tasmania also filming.

This is so tragic and sad. He was really one of a kind and so entertaining.

Oh that's just awful!!!!! I really liked him...such a respect for the earth and everything on it.

So this happened while they were filming? So was the accident (stabbing death) caught on film?

The Australian papers are saying he went too close to the Stingray during the filming of a documentary..startled it, it hit him near the heart, most likely causing a heart attack.
There was a wound on his chest but they did not say that he was stabbed through the chest.
It is very sad ..

Thank you for this sad info. I was in flight all day yesterday and had no idea that this had happened.

His wife and children, I'm so sad.....

The man died doing what he loved: taking ridiculous risks and teasing wild animals.

What a loss. "Crikey!"

Thanks for posting, Marko. I hadn't heard. I really enjoyed his shows. Very sad.

Rusty, I don't think Bonniebroad's post was in the spirit of "I told you so".


What an awful death! And those young children.

How heartbreaking.

Neither do I think bonniebroad's comment was in the spirit of "I told you so". This accident happened very close to where I live, so we're all a bit shattered. Its a freak accident, nothing more. They're is no evidence that Steve Irwin was taking "ridiculous risks", the man was not a fool. Yes, his death is all recorded on film, for family's sake one hopes that it won't be released to general public.

I was shocked when I turned on the news today and heard this story. The article I read said the stinger went directly into his heart.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14663786/

How very, very sad for his lovely wife and children.

I forgot to mention that we visited Stingray City in the Cayman Islands. We swam with stingrays, fed them squid, and DH held one in his arms. We always said we would do it again, but now I'm not so sure.

I can only hope that when my number's up that I am fearless, doing something I love.

RIP Crikey, and mahalo for the good times....indeed!

I've heard this morning... somebody speaking with Aussie accent said it's a freak accident, in the last 100 years there are only 3 cases of death by a stingray in Australia and only 17 cases worldwide.

Whatever he'd done, he did promote love to animals. Another reminder why this is a "wild animal kingdom".

Very very sad. My heart goes out to his family.

Today just showed a controversial interview with Matt Lauer.

Steve" If I could relive Friday, Matt, I'd go surfing"

Fearless indeed, even with the wildlife press.