This Is The Last…

I was in the pub after work when I saw over the news that Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin was killed earlier today by a stingray attack in Northern Queensland while filming a documentary on tiger sharks. After being struck in the chest by the stingray, Irwin was unable to be revived when paramedics arived at Batt Reef, off Port Douglas.

Despite sometimes being the subject of criticisim and jokes here in Australia, since his death, Irwin is being memorialized as a conservationist, family man, and Australian ambassador. I’ve always liked the guy. Sure, he’s a bit out there with his TV shows, but he was a great personality and fun to watch. He’ll be missed.

The attack is being called a freak accedent, and even that sounds like a stretch. Stingrays are known by experts to be non-agressive animals, and there have only been 17 recorded deaths (2 in Australia) from the stingray barb.