Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Good Bye Steve - We knew you well

The Ranter
The Ranter
I wanted to touch on the tragedy that struck Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter while filming a documentary on the 4th. Now the entire world is aware of the fact that Steve was killed by a stingray Monday while filming at the Great Barrier Reef for a new documentary series called "Ocean's Deadliest."

Authorities have already issued a statement that Steve had not endangered the Manta in any way and was simply swimming and observing the sea creature when the ray's whip-like tail struck him, and the poisonous barb apparently punctured his heart. He was taken by his boat, Croc One, to a rescue helicopter that flew to the community of Low Isle. Despite attempts at resuscitation, he was pronounced dead.

I always got a kick out of watching his antics on Discovery and Animal Planet, Steve’s signature lines was an explosion of exclamations, typically "Crikey!" when in awe, "Gorgeous!" when showing off some reptile's charms or "Danger! Danger! Danger!" when even he knew it was wiser to keep a distance from an aroused animal.

Stephen Robert Irwin was born Feb. 22, 1962, in Essendon, Victoria, in Australia, where his father worked as a plumber and his mother was a maternity nurse. His childhood was surrounded with snakes and animals of all shapes and sizes giving him a love for the profession he worked hard within.

This tragedy is very sad indeed and my heart and prayers go to his family, his wife and children during this time for sorrow.

The people of Australia has lost an icon and it will leave a hole that will need to be filled.

Good Bye Crocodile Hunter, we knew you well.

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