Publisher: Ian Morgan
Published: 04/09/2006
Steve Irwin, the Australian television personality and environmentalist known as the Crocodile Hunter, was killed today by a stingray barb during a diving expedition.
Irwin, 44, was filming an underwater documentary on the Great Barrier Reef in north-eastern Queensland state when the accident occurred, Sydney's The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on its Web site.
Irwin was stung about 11am (0200BST) on Batt Reef, off the remote resort town of Port Douglas.
Crew members aboard Irwin's boat, Croc One, called emergency services in the nearest city, Cairns, and administered cardio pulmonary resuscitation techniques as they rushed the boat to nearby Low Isle to meet a rescue helicopter.
Medical staff pronounced Irwin dead at about noon, the statement said.
He died from a stingray barb to the heart, ABC reported on its web site.
"The world has lost a great wildlife icon, a passionate conservationist and one of the proudest dads on the planet," said John Stainton, Irwin's friend and producer.
"He died doing what he loved best and left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind. Crocs Rule!"
Irwin is famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchcry "Crikey!" in his television program, Crocodile Hunter, which was first broadcast in Australia in 1992 and has been broadcast around the world on the Discovery channel.
He rode his image into a feature film, and developed the Australia Zoo as a tourist attraction.
The public image was dented in 2004 when Irwin triggered an uproar by holding his baby in one arm while feeding large crocodiles inside a zoo pen. Irwin claimed at the time there was no danger to his son, and authorities declined to charge Irwin with violating safety regulations.
Later that year, he was accused of getting too close to penguins, a seal and humpback whales in Antarctica while making a documentary. Irwin denied any wrongdoing, and an Australian Environment Department investigation recommended no action be taken against him.
He is survived by his American wife Terri Irwin, from Oregon, who was Terri Raines before they married in 1992, their daughter Bindi Sue, eight, and son Bob, who will turn three in December.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who used a photograph of his family at Australia Zoo for his official Christmas card last year, hailed Irwin for his work in promoting Australia through projects such as the "G'Day LA" tourism and trade promotion in Los Angeles in January.
"The minister knew him, was fond of him and was very, very appreciative of all the work he'd done to promote Australia overseas," Downer's spokesman Tony Parkinson said.
Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin was a unique character who brought joy to millions of people around the world, Australia's visibly upset prime minister said today.
"I am quite shocked and distressed at Steve Irwin's sudden, untimely and freakish death," Prime Minister John Howard said after police confirmed the media personality and environmentalist had been killed by a stingray's barb to his heart while diving off Queensland state.
"He was a wonderful character. He was a passionate environmentalist. He brought joy and entertainment and excitement to millions of people," Howard said in Canberra.
"He was a one-off character."
"I really do feel Australia has lost a wonderful and colourful son," he added.
Australian leaders paid tribute and expressed grief at the loss of the dynamic personality.
Howard said he knew the Irwin family and had visited Irwin's Australia Zoo in Queensland on several occasions. There was no difference between Irwin's enthusiastic public persona and the private man.
"He was the genuine article," Howard said.
Copyright Press Association 2006
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lil_unlucky13 Community Member 
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Community Member
crying crying
I was, like practically his ultimate fan!