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THE CROCODILE MAN

by Open-Publishing - Monday 4 September 2006
22 comments

Environment Australia Peter Fredson

The Crocodile Man

By Peter Fredson

September 4, 2006

It is a sad day for Australia. Steve Irwin, “The Crocodile Man” is dead. He was killed accidentally when swimming over a sting-ray and its barb went into Steve. He died shortly thereafter. We were astonished that, after all the daring-do escapades with dangerous wild animals, Steve was not invincible.

He handled the most poisonous snakes on this planet with amazing aplomb. He was at his press-relations best with crocodiles, amusing us with taunting the snapping jaws of the huge reptiles, and jumping on top of them in order to take them to his beloved Australian zoo. He certainly did marvelous work for his wild friends, especially in educating people as to their potential for ultimate damage.

I always watched the Irwin documentaries as his enthusiasm and passion was so evident, as being a prime advocate for the place of animals in our eco-system, and for his humane care of his creatures.

My only hesitation for his enthusiasm came when he would fondle a long slender green snake and declare it to be “lovely” or “beautiful.” Even the ugliest crocodile became “beautiful” in Steve’s parlance.

We extend our sympathy to his wife and children, to all Australians, and even to his feathered, scaly, or furry friends.

Forum posts

  • Steve,

    I have watched you and been entertained by you for many years...

    you will be missed very much...

    a fan

  • steve you were a good man the world wont be the same without your gathered knowledge of nature and all animals in the out back i send my regards to his wife and daughter may he rest in peace from a dedicated fan

  • steve
    you will be missed

  • I will miss his gentle epithets like "Crikey", and "Blimey"

  • To Steve’s family, our prayers are with you, in your time of sorrow. we in the USA, TEXAS, will miss seeing him on TV. From Austin age 8, and his grandmoter Debbie.

  • Steve Irwin will be sadly missed by all,
    All my love hugs and kisses go out to his wife Terri and their children

  • I am so saddened to hear of this. I feel a huge loss with the passing of Steve.

  • Their is no tribute worthy of a man with such charisma and enuthisiasm for making the world a better place.

    I just feel sorry for his poor wife and his thousands of fans across the globe his tragic death is an untimely reminder that no single being is invincible in the grand sceme of things...

    A smaall condolance is that he died doing the thing he loved best.

    Many thanks to a great man of entertainment and nature.

    alex streeter
    13
    england

  • On this wonderful earth that god has created for us, we have a very limited time to be here. It is important to do what we love while we are here. While it is such a tragedy, it is comforting at the same time to know that Steve died doing what he loved best. May he rest in peace and may god bless his family and friends and give them strength at this sad time.

    A dedicated fan in the U.S.A.

  • I used to joke that he’d get his head bit off by a crocodile someday, stupid chump. Well, I guess a stingray got him instead. The lesson is if you fool around with dangerous critters you’re tempting fate.

    Don’t get me wrong, I liked the guy. I just thought he was a bit foolish.

    • Sad to hear this, and it was a death that was very inevitable, BUT, at least now he’s a Creationist and no longer peddling the Darwinian bile he was so fond of.

    • That remark was uncalled for and is petty, spiteful, and venemous. Anyone who defames the dead will themselves become scorned.

    • Petty? No, it was very serious.

      Spiteful? Why? I liked the guy, for goodness sake.

      Venemous? Only stating cold facts.

      Defaming the dead? What lie did I tell about him?

    • i have to agree that steve was foolish to do what he was doing dont get me wrong i loved what he was doing but sometimes i thought he went a little too far with the wild animals.rest in peace my friend we will all miss u.

  • to terri and family we would like to send our condolences to you steve will be missed terribly god bless . from the ash family wigan unitedkingdom xxx

  • To Terri and Family
    Your husband was an amazing man. He made a lot of children and adults of many ages very happy. I cannot not tell you the saddness that your family must be feeling at this time and remember, that all though it’s hard to look at right now. He’lll be with you always in all your hearts and chances are giving you crap from upstairs when your not doing something the way he would. But all the best to you and your beautiful children. Remember he lives on through them. God bless you all and my Prayers are with you for the rough times ahead.

    Canadian Fan

  • Thank you for a sensitive article about a man greatly underrated in his own country.

  • This was such a sad thing to hear. We can’t afford to loose such gentle, good men. My heartfelt sympathy to his family and the people of Australia.

  • No fewer than 15 comments about an entertainer, while most of the other articles appearing on English-speaking Bellaciao - that generally bear much more significantly on people’s lives - show little or no commentary interest. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing - I liked Steve, as well - but it suggests that too many people visiting this cite either feel uncomfortable voicing their opinion regarding weightier mattters or worse - either have no opinion on these matters or cannot articulate one due to lack of knowledge. Up next - "Madonna stubs her toe" and "Brad Pitt’s bout with jock itch."

  • Steve

    I watched many of your programmes, which were filled with excitement and great entertainment. You brought a whole new dimension to the nature world which were full of knowledge. You’re a great man, very brave and we’ll miss you very much. The world won’t be the same without you!

    Our condolences go to all the family and fans.

    A Pakistani Fan

  • my condolance go out to his family, i was shocked and deeply upset to hear of his untimely passing, his work was truly amazing, this world will not be the same without him he was so enthusiastic about everything i just wish i had the honour to meet him he died doing what he loved, i have watched his programmes since they started and feel that i knew him, he will be truly missed by all, bye mate we’ll miss you so much
    julie (united kingdom)
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

  • TO THE WIFE AND FAMILY I OFFER MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY. WE HAVE ENJOYED WATCHING HIM TIME AND TIME AGAIN. HE WILL BE GRATELY MISSED!! GOD BLESS YOU ALL.