Steve Irwin Dead

Mourners pay respects at Australia Zoo
By Evan Schwarten
September 04, 2006
MOURNERS laid flowers at the entrance of Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo today after the man known as the Crocodile Hunter died in a freak marine accident.

The 44-year-old was killed by a stingray barb that pierced his chest while he was diving off Port Douglas in north Queensland.

Tourists joined locals to pay their respects outside the Beerwah Zoo, north of Brisbane, made famous by the naturalist and media identity.

Zoo staff attempted to keep a business-as-usual approach and kept the zoo running until its normal closing time of 4.30pm.

However, they allowed more than a dozen mourners to pay their respects as news of the international star's death spread.

Some left flowers or pot plants at the front entrance and on a large wooden crocodile located outside, while others just turned up to say a quiet goodbye.

Rod Cameron of Brisbane said he rushed to the zoo as soon as he heard the news, stopping only to buy the last bunch of flowers from a nearby service station.

“We heard the news ... it's very sad and we are very upset. Australia just lost a bloody good bloke,” he said.

“We grew up in Brisbane, followed his career. We just thought he was a good guy for what he did for Australia.

“He put us on the map I reckon.”

Melbourne's Glenn Batson took time out from travelling around Queensland with friends to pay his respects.

“He died doing what he loved, didn't he?” he said.

Glass House Mountains resident Lesley Manks, who said she had been lucky enough to meet Mr Irwin on a visit to the zoo, said his death had affected her personally.

“When I first heard it I couldn't believe it,” she said.

“It was like hearing of the death of a really great friend.

“It's hard ... it's hit home.”

Vivien Fleming brought her five-year-old son Leighton to pay tribute.

“We've got a lot of respect for Steve and what he's done for the environment and what he's done for the local community and we're just here to pay our respects"

I want to go out doing something I love (not yet though I nearly did).

Everything else is just marking time in a cubicle until *something* gets you.

RIP.

DeV.

44 is very young but we should all be so lucky to go out quickly to something we love and not to some crippling illness that keeps us bed ridden while we waste away slowly.

Rip steve o/

azezil wrote:

I sniggered... I couldn't help it!

Why don't you let us all know when your old man (if you still have one) dies and we can all have a snigger.

Some little girl and a boy just lost their dad today...

Shame on you!

Sad to hear of this. Initially when I used to see him I used to think of him as being a way over the top idiot in his style of presentation. Then I saw him talking about his passion for his work and I got better understanding of his overt enthusiasm. May he Rest In Peace.

Crikey.

damien.m wrote:

Crikey.

That's a bit insensitive !!!


RIP Steve. He was second only to the great Attennborough as a nature presenter.

I feel kinda numb today, it's like I've lost a real friend.

HelterSkelter wrote:

You sure about those dates??? That makes him 60!

Aye i made a mistake on those dates, so edited original post with correct information

shin

stevejazzx wrote:

Thought he was great but always wondered how real the scenarios were that he put himself through, someone mentioned before that he would drug the crocs so he could showboat with them?

Doubt it they are stupid animals that run on instinct once you get used to them you should be safe enough