I am so upset right now, I think he was a great Australian icon and a great guy. So laid back and a true Aussie. His poor kids.

Couldn't believe this when I read it. I called my husband, he is a big fan, and he didn't believe me. His co-worker called him shortly after, and now he believes me.

I can't help but think that Steve Irwin should have gone a different way. I know that may sound bad -- Anyone can go on a tour and pet stingrays/swim with them, etc. Not many people go close to venemous snakes and crocodiles. You would think it would not have been a stingray that killed him.

All aside, I'm thinking of his family. I hope they are with close friends and family.

He's one of only THREE recorded deaths caused by a stingray, its incredibly rare that they would attack the way this one did apparently. Sigh. When you're number's up, its up isnt it?

The news has been crazy, all sorts of incorrect information, last night they made it sounds like his daughter (7) was with him and witnessed the attack, I kept waking up during the night thinking about that poor child waiting for her mother to come and get her, it really disturbed me and then this morning I see footage of mother, daughter and son getting on a plane to come home. Thank goodness!

This is so sad. Can you imagine being that excited and passionate about your job? He just put me in a good mood everytime I watched on Animal Planet. He will be missed.

Dude I know, I had no clue stingrays were that aggressive. I just moved to the beach and for my enviromental science course (which has field work) I had to take a safety quiz on stingrays, alligators, snakes, and other things. I had no clue, I was soooooo incredibly shocked I was like when am I going to have to worry about them, your apparantly supposed to shuffle your feet back and forth constantly in the ocean. I was sooooooooo shocked I wanted to cry when I found out like 2 days ago I wanted to cry. He was young, his wife is young, and his kids are young. But he did die doing what he loved, so I suppose its not a total loss, but I hope his children will not be bitter toward him for it as well as I hope that they do not hold a fear of animals or the ocean

He was so great for nature, and kidd's he will be missed my son chase was crushed!!!

Steve hit all age groups! My heart go's out to his family.

I adored him. There was a time when I was bedbound by depression, and he was the only person that could make me laugh. I admired his warrior persona, and the way he educated, inspired, and cared for animal conservation.

Terri had to know that someday - he would die in a tragic way - and at least he went fast, without having some fatal disease, medication that interfered with his lifestyle.

Bindi will have the most difficult time. She was his clone, and her love for him was so huge - all the time they spent together, and his larger than life global appreciation. She's only 8 - and this is a terrible thing for her.

Baby Bob is only 2 1/2, and was just starting to share in the adventures.

I will miss him, the rest of my life.

I thank him for the Joy he brings to my life - and for making me aware of so many animals out there in the world.

Rest in Peace Steve - knowing you changed the world.

A total tragedy.

My kids grew up watching "The Crocodile Hunter" and in 1998 we went to Australia Zoo, Steve was in the tortoise enclosure and came over to say hello to everyone who was watching, he was very friendly and came across as a genuinely nice bloke. My son (who is now 15yrs but was 7yrs at the time) still talks about meeting "The Crocodile Hunter".

He'll be sadly missed.

I found out on the Cnn news 4.30 Sunday and thought they MUST have the wrong person, I am grieved as my father passed away two year ago and I haven't greived, I am taking his loss in the work rather badly.........he hd a great wife and BEATIFUL kids.......what does anyone else feel, I am totally stunned.......... am back down here in NZ, it is sooooo sad

i am crying a lot over this, is it for him, or my dad, I don't know!

I wish there was some way to send our condolences, if there is let us know. They were such a lovely family, truly soulmates, that is what breaks my heart, do you think he will get a state funeral, he deserves it.

Yes I am shock, if anyone wnat to talk to me about it PM me!!!XXXX

Amourette

:cry

Croc Hunter had a great wife totally together and great, beautiful children, he was filming for her when it happened, from NZ we loved you all.............still stunned!!!

From NZ, or deepest sympathy, totally shocked, thoughts wih the family..........you will get thousands of letters, but you are a tragic loss to OZ NATURE, WE love you!!!!

Wow, I didn't realize how big his presence was. That's really cool.

I guess like NZ has their "tiger man" or "lion guy" or whatever (don't know of him personally, but worked with someone who was related to him and spent time at his conservatory, then shared stories of how he had celebrity status there), OZ had the crocodile hunter.

Amourette....apparently Steve's wife has declined a State Funeral, she would prefer a more personal funeral for him.

I thought he was great anyway, but was in Los Angeles when it happened and it played non-stop on most news channels, he was big, probably more out of his own country, I think he deserves a state funeral.

Still can't believe it, he felt the barb go in and pulled it out, then went unconscious and it was only the camera man who saw bllod, stopped filming and raised the alarm.........

Great article on his amazing soulmate wife, and the two beautiful kids in August AWW............:cry :cry :cry :cry