I woke up this morning, played with the dogs a bit, and then switched on the tv, to see what Tivo had recorded last night. The news was on, and at the bottom of the screen text was rolling across as usual. I caught a quick glimpse of "Steve Irwin: Australia's Crocodile Hunter..." and then the show went to commercial. So I waited, hoping for the best...but no.

Steve Irwin was killed Monday by a stingray; apparently it's poisonous barb punctured his chest, then his heart. A friend and colleague who was with him on the boat said "He died doing what he loved best and left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind."

Still, it's sad...and I feel so badly for his wife and kids.

I was jut about to pull up your blog when hub called me to the tv to show me. i'm stunned!

Me three. I am blown away. Almost as bad as I was when Diana died.

I am stunned.
♥Pam

Me three. I am blown away. Almost as bad as I was when Diana died.

I am stunned.
♥Pam

What I loved most about Steve Irwin was his zest for life, his love for his work and his joy at showing the world the unusual from the wild world of animals. He shall be missed.

That is the first thing I read when my internet popped up this morning and I am in shock and disbelief. I read that death this way is rare as the poison rarely kills but since it punctured his heart he didn't have a chance. Very sad. He was a fun, entertaining and obviously nature loving individual. I feel so sad for his wife and children, it is a devastating loss for them.

I was shocked by this as well.

I saw this come into my email last night & was just stunned, thinking it couldn't possibly be true. Yes, he died doing what he loved, but I'm sure he wasn't ready to go & wouldn't have wanted to leave his wife & kids just yet. This is just so sad :(

Already, though, on the tv and talk shows, they're at it:
Did Irwin Get His Death Wish?
Should It Have Happened Sooner?
Should We Be Surprised?
Was He Too Selfish?

blah blah blah.

My goodness....as Calvin once said: it's times like these that I am embarrassed to call myself a human.

As you know, I'm distressed by this too. This man had such passion, and didn't care that people mocked him, as long as they took notice of what he was trying to achieve. And he DID achieve so much.

isn't that the weirdest thing? like, of all the things this guy has done... wow. as much as he risked his life everyday, it's still a shocker.

i feel so bad for his wife and 2 kids. at least they can take some comfort in what he accomplished during his life and that he went doing something he loved.

my FIL told my dd and i about it just before i put her to bed. and while, yes, he did die doing what he loved, how awful awful. his poor wife and kids. his daugter is less than a year older than mine and his son is just a smidge younger than my son. that seems to make it hit me all the harder.
:( just sad and sadder.

Tragic.......horrible......very sad

I find this incredibly ironic. A stingray? Not a snake or a croc? Sigh. Who will say CRICKEY for me now?

I know! Sad, isn't it? I never even watched The Crocodile Hunter, but...he was so enthusiastic. It seems very sad to lose anyone who is that passionate about what they do.

My 10 year old daughter and I were driving in the car on Monday when the brief newsflash came on--the radio was low, but we both looked at each other and I said, "Did you hear that?"

My children love The Crocodile Hunter, and I really enjoyed Steve Irwin too. He did have a zest for life that inspired many, and he did much to educate us.

I had to explain to my daughter that, though it is tragic, Steven Irwin knew the risks he was taking and did it because he loved to do it. She understood, and so did my 8 yo.

But still. What a tragedy.

I'm still having a hard time believing that he is gone. :(