Water on the Great Barrier Reef.

The 44-year-old TV personality may have died instantly when struck by the stingray while filming a sequence for his eight-year-old daughter Bindi's new TV series, friends believe.

"You think about all the documentaries we've made and all the dangerous situations that we have been in, you always think `is this it, is this a day that maybe his demise?'," said his friend and manager John Stainton.

"(But) nothing would ever scare Steve or would worry him. He didn't have a fear of death at all."

Mr Irwin made his international reputation wrestling crocodiles and snakes.

But the flamboyant naturalist's final confrontation with a wild animal occurred at Batt Reef off Port Douglas on Monday morning, where he had been filming a new documentary, "Ocean's Deadliest".

Taking time off from the main project, Mr Irwin was swimming in shallow water, snorkelling as his cameraman filmed large bull rays.

"He came over the top of a stingray and the stingray's barb went up and went into his chest and put a hole into his heart," said Mr Irwin's friend and manager John Stainton.

"It's likely that he possibly died instantly when the barb hit him, and I don't think that he ... felt any pain.

"He died doing what he loved best."

It is sad and I feel for his family.

Personally, I didn't like Mr. Irwin's TV shows. I felt his flippant way of dealing with Crocodiles was dangerous for the average person to see. He was an expert, but the chances he took might lead others to take chances that might be harmful to themselves. And I was disgusted when he had his daughter around the reptiles in what I considered to be less than normal fatherly situations.

I totally agree that Steve would be very upset over these idiots killing the sitngrays. Why are some people so dam ignorant?:angry

crikey....we will miss ya Steve

I don't think I will visit this area again the stupid talk of you, yo mamma, the horses and he said she said we said they did they shouldn't ...blah blah blah is starting to atrophy my brain cells...get a life loosers.

What the....??

LOL !:puke:

I wish she would be more honest and outspoken about her feelings, lol.

I loved that crazy look in Steve's eyes, but it was also a look of passion for his work.

I really hope they do not show his death on TV, IMHO thats morbid and why in the world (oh yeah, money thats right) would they want to subject that to the family and close friends of Steve. If you've ever seen a loved one die before you'd know what I'm talking about.

RIP Steve

I watched the Steve Irwin memorial service on TV this morning. It was very moving and although it was a celebration of his life..... to me it was very sad especially seeing his family trying to be strong.

Everytime the camera turned to Terri a tear ran down my cheek.....she looked so frail and absolutely devastated.

What about Bindi though....8 years old and an absolute pro!

I watched the Steve Irwin memorial service on TV this morning. It was very moving and although it was a celebration of his life..... to me it was very sad especially seeing his family trying to be strong.

Everytime the camera turned to Terri a tear ran down my cheek.....she looked so frail and absolutely devastated.:cry

What about Bindi though....8 years old and so mature and articulate.

Little Bindi is such a beautiful child, and has her dad's spirit! I think she will carry on his legacy the way he would have wanted. The Memorial Service was very moving!

Steve's truck on it's final journey...

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlI_JmIHs9E]YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.[/ame]

My boyfriend didn't know it was coming on, and for an hour before he kept saying "what's wrong". I knew I had to prepare myself to watch this.

Terry with her sunglasses on the whole time told me how bad off she is. You just KNOW why she is wearing those.

The man singing said he had trouble holding it together during this. He also said the guy driving it was the guy trying to revive Steve at the time of his death, and that this man was crying as he piled the things on the truck, and that made the singer almost not able to sing.

I said to my boyfriend after it, as we were blowing our noses (I swear I couldn't even breath out my nose I was bawling so hard) that people tend to forget and move on, I would haate to see this zoo and Steve's conservation projects go down the tubes.

THAT would be a real tragedy to come out of all of this.

I want to shout out to people to not let that happen.

http://www.wildlifewarriors.org.au/

Wildlife Warriors and his zoo is the place to contribute if you feel the same way.