SYDNEY, Australia - Steve Irwin, the quirky Australian naturalist who won worldwide acclaim, has died in a marine accident off Australia’s northeast coast, local media reported on Monday.
Queensland state government sources quoted by Australian Associated Press (AAP) said Irwin, 44, whose television show “The Crocodile Hunter” won international acclaim and popularized the phrase “Crikey”, was believed to have been killed by a stingray barb that pierced his chest.
He was filming an underwater documentary off Port Douglas when the accident occurred, the report said.
Sky Television also reported that Irwin had been stung by a sting ray.
Australian emergency officials could not immediately confirm the reports.
Irwin won a global following for his daredevil antics but also triggered outrage in 2004 by holding his then one-month-old baby while feeding a snapping crocodile at his Australian zoo.
"This world is a blank price tag, and whatever value you put on it, is what its worth to you. I have made this world priceless and worthless, so therefore I have placed my value in the afterlife."
u have to be joking right??! is he even muslim?
whats the big deal about this guy?
He helped out animals a lot and educated people on the beauty of animals in a fun way, often putting himself at risk (sometimes he did pretty silly things but it was all part of entertainment).
It doesnt matter he wasnt muslim. He was still Ummati of Rasulullah - he probably had more Islam in him than a lot of Muslims these days. He cared for the creatures of Allah and he set up charities and he looked after them well. Remember the story of the prostitute told in a hadith - Allah granted her Jannah for taking the time to give a cat some water. One act of kindness is all it took. This guy genuinely cared and he did a lot for animals.
“Verily passion turns kings into slaves, and patience turns slaves into kings…Do you not see the story of Yusuf and Zulaykha?”
Re: BREAKING NEWS: Steve Irwin, "Crocodile Hunter," is Dead
format_quote Originally Posted by F.Y.
He helped out animals a lot and educated people on the beauty of animals in a fun way, often putting himself at risk (sometimes he did pretty silly things but it was all part of entertainment).
It doesnt matter he wasnt muslim. He was still Ummati of Rasulullah - he probably had more Islam in him than a lot of Muslims these days. He cared for the creatures of Allah and he set up charities and he looked after them well. Remember the story of the prostitute told in a hadith - Allah granted her Jannah for taking the time to give a cat some water. One act of kindness is all it took. This guy genuinely cared and he did a lot for animals.
Re: BREAKING NEWS: Steve Irwin, "Crocodile Hunter," is Dead
format_quote Originally Posted by F.Y.
He helped out animals a lot and educated people on the beauty of animals in a fun way, often putting himself at risk (sometimes he did pretty silly things but it was all part of entertainment).
It doesnt matter he wasnt muslim. He was still Ummati of Rasulullah - he probably had more Islam in him than a lot of Muslims these days. He cared for the creatures of Allah and he set up charities and he looked after them well. Remember the story of the prostitute told in a hadith - Allah granted her Jannah for taking the time to give a cat some water. One act of kindness is all it took. This guy genuinely cared and he did a lot for animals.
*Applauds*
Ėk Gusā Alhu Mėrā
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah.
Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Mahraaj Ji!
Kal Meh Bėḏ Atharbaṇ Hū Nā Kẖuḏā Alhu Bẖa.
In the Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Atharva Veda became prominent; Allah became the Name of God.
Re: BREAKING NEWS: Steve Irwin, "Crocodile Hunter," is Dead
Oh man I'm feeling so sad. I first read about him on AOL news and my tears just sprang out. He was so lively, bouncing about here and there. I can't believe he's gone.
May Allah bring peace to the hearts of his family and friends and make their loss easier to bear. So saddening.
Re: BREAKING NEWS: Steve Irwin, "Crocodile Hunter," is Dead
Sad news indeed I enjoyed the guys shows and loved his sense of humour when dealing with those crocs, the whole tragic thing in this is that he never embraced islam this just goes to show dawa must be implamented more by us muslims.
Re: BREAKING NEWS: Steve Irwin, "Crocodile Hunter," is Dead
Insha'Allah his wife and kids are doing fine. His wife was not even known about his death until about 3 hours later because she was trekking in tasmania (on the south side of australia, queensland is on the north) and they could not get into contact with her.
He will be greatly missed.
If you would really like to see how Muslims keep it real, click onMVand you'll see
Re: BREAKING NEWS: Steve Irwin, "Crocodile Hunter," is Dead
format_quote Originally Posted by islam-truth
Sad news indeed I enjoyed the guys shows and loved his sense of humour when dealing with those crocs, the whole tragic thing in this is that he never embraced islam this just goes to show dawa must be implamented more by us muslims.
So true. We need to give da'wah especially to the famous, as they are the ones that most of our youth look up to [Not saying that's right]....
Re: BREAKING NEWS: Steve Irwin, "Crocodile Hunter," is Dead
format_quote Originally Posted by islam-truth
Sad news indeed I enjoyed the guys shows and loved his sense of humour when dealing with those crocs, the whole tragic thing in this is that he never embraced islam this just goes to show dawa must be implamented more by us muslims.
I think he was following Christainity, so why would he embrace islam! Or are you implying if he had, he'd have been spared death?
Ėk Gusā Alhu Mėrā
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah.
Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Mahraaj Ji!
Kal Meh Bėḏ Atharbaṇ Hū Nā Kẖuḏā Alhu Bẖa.
In the Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Atharva Veda became prominent; Allah became the Name of God.
Re: BREAKING NEWS: Steve Irwin, "Crocodile Hunter," is Dead
format_quote Originally Posted by AvarAllahNoor
I think he was following Christainity, so why would he embrace islam! Or are you implying if he had, he'd have been spared death?
I don't want to turn this into a debate about Christianity Vs Isalm but from an islamic point of view unless u bring the islam which your messenger gave to u your in a lot of trouble thats why i said it was tragic since i enjoyed watching him.
Re: BREAKING NEWS: Steve Irwin, "Crocodile Hunter," is Dead
Whoa... I couldn't belive it when I saw this thread.
Sometimes, people think that famous people like Steve, may Allah (swt) have mercy on his soul, are always going to be around... But that is of course not the case.
He had a great personality and I've never seen anybody who is so entusiastic about every kind of animal.
May Allah (swt) be merciful.
He was a good human being and cared for animals like no other...!
May Allah (swt) also make it easier for his wife and children...
P.S. Sis F.Y. your post was great. Mashallah.
Last edited by Al-Zaara; 09-04-2006 at 02:54 PM.
“If only I had checked myself”
—
Guy who wrecked himself
True leaders don't create followers...
.... They create new leaders.
By BRIAN CASSEY, Associated Press Writer
Mon Sep 4, 9:34 AM ET
CAIRNS, Australia - Steve Irwin, the hugely popular Australian television personality and conservationist known as the "Crocodile Hunter," was killed Monday by a stingray while filming off the Great Barrier Reef. He was 44.
Irwin was at Batt Reef, off the remote coast of northeastern Queensland state, shooting a segment for a series called "Ocean's Deadliest" when he swam too close to one of the animals, which have a poisonous barb on their tails, his friend and colleague John Stainton said.
"He came on top of the stingray and the stingray's barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his heart," said Stainton, who was on board Irwin's boat at the time.
Crew members aboard the boat, Croc One, called emergency services in the nearest city, Cairns, and administered CPR as they rushed the boat to nearby Low Isle to meet a rescue helicopter. Medical staff pronounced Irwin dead when they arrived a short time later, Stainton said.
Irwin was famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchword "Crikey!" in his television program "Crocodile Hunter." First broadcast in Australia in 1992, the program was picked up by the Discovery network, catapulting Irwin to international celebrity.
He rode his image into a feature film, 2002's "The Crocodile Hunters: Collision Course" and developed the wildlife park that his parents opened, Australia Zoo, into a major tourist attraction.
"The world has lost a great wildlife icon, a passionate conservationist and one of the proudest dads on the planet," Stainton told reporters in Cairns. "He died doing what he loved best and left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind. He would have said, 'Crocs Rule!'"
Prime Minister John Howard, who hand-picked Irwin to attend a gala barbecue to honor President Bush when he visited in 2003, said he was "shocked and distressed at Steve Irwin's sudden, untimely and freakish death."
"It's a huge loss to Australia," Howard told reporters. "He was a wonderful character. He was a passionate environmentalist. He brought joy and entertainment and excitement to millions of people."
Irwin, who made a trademark of hovering dangerously close to untethered crocodiles and leaping on their backs, spoke in rapid-fire bursts with a thick Australian accent and was almost never seen without his uniform of khaki shorts and shirt and heavy boots.
Wild animal expert Jack Hanna, who frequently appears on TV with his subjects, offered praise for Irwin.
"Steve was one of these guys, we thought of him as invincible," Hanna, director emeritus of the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo and Aquarium, told ABC's "Good Morning America" Monday.
"The guy was incredible. His knowledge was incredible," Hanna said. "Some people that are doing this stuff are actors and that type of thing, but Steve was truly a zoologist, so to speak, a person who knew what he was doing. Yes, he did things a lot of people wouldn't do. I think he knew what he was doing."
Irwin's ebullience was infectious and Australian officials sought him out for photo opportunities and to promote Australia internationally.
His public image was dented, however, in 2004 when he caused an uproar by holding his infant son in one arm while feeding large crocodiles inside a zoo pen. Irwin claimed at the time there was no danger to the child, 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.
Stingrays have a serrated, toxin-loaded barb, or spine, on the top of their tail. The barb, which can be up to 10 inches long, flexes if a ray is frightened. Stings usually occur to people when they step on or swim too close to a ray and can be excruciatingly painful but are rarely fatal, said University of Queensland marine neuroscientist Shaun Collin.
Collin said he suspected Irwin died because the barb pierced under his ribcage and directly into his heart.
"It was extraordinarily bad luck. It's not easy to get spined by a stingray and to be killed by one is very rare," Collin said.
News of Irwin's death spread quickly, and tributes flowed from all quarters of society.
At Australia Zoo at Beerwah, south Queensland, floral tributes were dropped at the entrance, where a huge fake crocodile gapes. Drivers honked their horns as they passed.
"Steve, from all God's creatures, thank you. Rest in peace," was written on a card with a bouquet of native flowers.
"We're all very shocked. I don't know what the zoo will do without him. He's done so much for us, the environment and it's a big loss," said Paula Kelly, a local resident and volunteer at the zoo, after dropping off a wreath at the gate.
Stainton said Irwin's American-born wife Terri, from Eugene, Ore., had been informed of his death, and had told their daughter Bindi Sue, 8, and son Bob, who will turn 3 in December.
The couple met when she went on vacation in Australia in 1991 and visited Irwin's Australia Zoo; they were married six months later. Sometimes referred to as the "Crocodile Huntress," she costarred on her husband's television show and in his 2002 movie.
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