It is very sad but not surprising when people die while jumping out of airplanes, teasing wild animals, skiing in avalance areas, etc. Unfortunately, death is a likely outcome for those who feel they must test the limits to feel they are alive.

Hey, guys, a suggestion: Stop and smell the flowers. Put a higher priority on staying alive to be a father to your son. These are the real things that life is made of.

I loved the guy, we all should have so much love for Mother Earth and her creatures! Such a loss, I am gutted.

Wow - we are so saddened by his death. My kids loved him when they were little (and still do). His shows were educational and exciting. He died doing what he loved - few can say that. Our condolences to his family on his untimely death. He will be very missed.

Sorry to interject, but...
Happytrailstoyou....
please dont come to my memorial to pass judgement on me.

Mourn on everyone to a great and crazy wonderful human being. Cheers!

It was a shock to hear abut Steve this morning.. According to an Aussie we met he was much more popular in the US. He did more for the saving of wild animals and stopping hunting in Australia..The day his dog died he was absolutely heartbroken and we all felt his pain and cried with him. One of the lovliest moments was caught on film when somebody asked his daughter, Mindy, about the animals.. and she answered in so many words that... she expected to run the zoo when she got older. lol Steve was quite a character and I think what you saw was what he was...He had a devoted staff who will miss h im and the world will miss his sense of humor and joy of life.. Crickey, wish you could have been around longer..

Happytrails, I understand what you are saying but I respectfully disagree. There a lot more dangerous professions than what Steve Irwin did. What about police, firefighters, soldiers, rescue workers, miners, and commercial fishing? There are so many deaths of people in these professions, so are you suggesting that a father should not work at a dangerous job?

Steve Irwin had a passion for what he did. He had a short life, but a very full one. Few people have such enthusiasm for their work. Steve Irwin had a dream and he fulfulled it, and not everyone can say that.

I thought Steve was immune to the things that would kill normal people. And it seems that he was if only three people have died this way. What a character. What a devoted father. What a gap he leaves.

Very sad news.

P_M--I completely agree with you. My husband is a mountain climber and was a career military officer. I cannot imagine asking him to not do either because of our children. I will not comment further because I know it is too early in the morning for me to put it nicely. All I can say is that I hope Mr. Irwins family is ok.

It's much more dangerous to be a musician or bartender and work in secondhand smoke. He at least knew what he was doing and it could have happened to any one of the thousands of snorkelers and divers in the world. God bless, Steve!

So sorry to hear this very sad news.

I was just heartbroken when I read this in the paper today. His shows were my favorites and never missed one on cable. He was one of a kind. Knew what he was doing, was his passion. How sad that such a freaky accident had to happen. His family was so neat. So sad for his wife Terri and the children.

Most people become miners, as far as I know, because this is the only job opportunity available to them (or the best-paying option). The same is true, in many intances, for fishermen.

Some people no doubt are attracted to being police officers and firefighters because these professions give them an adrenalin rush. Thank God they do--we need police officers and firefighters.

However, wrestling aligators, skiing in avalance areas, jumping off of bridges, etc. are not necessary for the general good.

Living in Seattle, I am alarmed that much more media attention is given to people who die while engaged in ill-advised outdoor adventures than to those who die in accidents while on their way home from work.

Please....STOP!!!

let us celebrate a great person...

and NOT debate you opinions...

<i> no doubt are attracted to being police officers and firefighters because these professions give them an adrenalin rush</i>

the firemen and policemen that I know, do it to <b>Help Other People.</b>
Rare Breeds, these people, who rush INTO the fire or stand in front of an innocent person to protect them from harm and so was Steve Irwin..most of us worry too much and play life very safe.
I admire these brave people and know that they set standards and teach by their actions..I doubt that many children watch a brave fireman and think to themselves, <i>Gee, how irresponsible that guy is when he has a family at home, he should just let that house burn down</i>

Tacky- criticizing a person that just died.

I just watched a clip on the Today show which I had missed before. In it Matt Lauer was questioning (actually very obviously attacking him) for the situation when Steve held his tiny baby near a crocodile. Since this interview seemed to make Steve out to be a poor father and was so sided, I thought it was in poor taste to show it in light of his death. Why couldn't they have picked a clip of him which wasn't so negative or controversial? Oh, never mind, I know -- this one was more sensational.

Disagree P, I thought it was a good clip choice that showed the man, and that he could handle the likes of Matt and the press. I remember being horrified by his actions with his newborn. I also remember him convincing me and the press, and winning that debate IMHO. Godspeed.

The really sad thing is that so many people listen to all that negative, sensational garbage on TV and then turn it into their views on the subject. I guess it's easier than forming your own opinion.

Steve Irwin has brought so much positive attention to wildlife conservation. It's amazing to me that people choose to dwell on negatives at the time of his death.

I was very saddened to hear this last night. He was a good person who was very passionate about animals and educating people about them.

Yes, some of the stuff he did was risky, and at times watching him on TV I thought we was crazy, but I'm not going to criticize and blame him for his own death. It was a freak accident, and I feel for his family. Of all the shows he did, the one that surprised me the most (and the one I remember the best) is the fairly recent one he did with his family when they travelled to some national parks in the U.S. I was expecting some wild footage and lots of footage of the animals in the park, but instead, it seemed to focus more on the family road-trip and their goofy antics in the vehicle. It was obvious how much they enjoyed being together and Steve clearly loved his children - it showed a totally different side of him, not the wild Crocodile Hunter persona at all. I was most impressed by the knowledge his 8 year-old daughter had about various animals, and how much she clearly loved them (even the bugs).

This freak accident occurred while he was filming stuff for a children's show he's doing with his daughter. Thank God she wasn't there, and I hope his death doesn't detract from all the good things he's done.

I liked the interview with Matt Lauer because you could see the bond Steve and his daughter Bindi Sue had. I loved to watch the two of them together. This is going to be really hard on Bindi, she's only 8, but eventually she'll get by it and through it. I really liked the guy and I always was just amazed at Terri, his wife. She could get &quot;down and dirty&quot; with the best of them. I hope she will be able to keep the zoo going and continue with their programs.