Steve Irwin : February 22, 1962 - September 4, 2006
Australian had come to all but a stand still on Monday, September 4th 2006 when announcements began to come over the air ways that Steve Irwin had died.
I was at work when Nancy asked if I heard that?
"What", I asked her?
The radio station repeated the sad news of Steve Irwin's death and yet two days on we are all still saying how difficult it is to believe.
He is one of only three people killed from a Stingray barb in Australia and one of 20 confirmed deaths in the world. The camera was still shooting, capturing images of Steven removing the barb before his death. Dr. Geoff Isbister at the Mater Hospital in Newcastle described the death: "What happened to Steve Irwin is like being stabbed in the heart. It has little to do with the venom and all to do with the trauma caused by the barb of the Stingray".
There isn't just a single word to describe Steve and what he meant to Australia, to the people of Australia and those world wide, but rather a multitude of words; he was a true blue Aussie larrikin. He took the most unbelievable risks and I was never too sure if I would be able to sit through a whole show or if I would have to turn the television off. I some how managed to stay to the end of each show and each time I was pleased I did despite my sweaty palms and a racing heart wondering if he would manage to avoid getting hurt.
Without doubt, Steve knew animals but not just knew them, he loved them. He had an uncanny ability to know just how far he could go to avoid getting stung or bitten.
He was a conservationist.
He was loved by all ages and all races.
Steve Irwin on:
MORTALITY - " I have no fear of loosing my life, if I have to save a koala, or a crocodile, or a kangaroo, or a snake, mate I will save it "
SUITS AND TIES - " But the pain of standing there in a suit with a tie around my neck (on his wedding day in 2002), I tell ya, I'd sooner have a python around me neck "
CRIKEY - " Crikey means gee, whiz, wow! "
FEAR - " I get called an adrenalin junkie every other minute, and I'm fine with that "
AUSTRALIA - " I'm a proud Australian, a very, very proud Australian "
PARROTS - " The only animlas I'm not comfortable with are parrots, but I'm learning as I go. Yeah for some reason parrots have to bite me. That's their job. I don't know why that is. They've nearly torn my nose off. I've had some really bad parrot bites. (But) I'm getting better and better at 'em. I really am "
EMOTIONS - " Where I live, if someone gives you a hug it's from the heart "
What others are saying about Steve:
" It's insane mate. I'm bigger that 10 bears. I reckon you'd be pretty right if you said I'm the best known Aussie in the world "
" I would never blame an animal if it bit me, that is for sure, because I'm at fault, not them "
" He was the genuine article. What you saw was what you got. He took risks, he enjoyed life. He brought immense joy to millions of people. I feel very distressed "
" He was a great ambassador for Australian larrikin values "
" The world has lost one of the great natural historians and I am very, very sad about it "
" I know that he led a dangerous life but it just doesn't seem right that a fish should kill him . . . It is an unfitting death for him "
" He is going to get killed the way he is going "
" He is a modern - day Noah and should be acknowledged as such "
" Steve is with his maker, the same one that made all in the world that Steve loved to show us "
Rest In Peace Steve Irwin, you will remain in the hearts of millions around the world.
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