I couldn't believe it when I heard the news this morning. Even though he was famous for taking risks, it seemed as if he staged his stunts carefully enough to get away with them. At any rate he was a television icon, easily recognized and sometimes fun.
Here at Northview it was very popular to make teasing remarks in his instantly recognized Australian accent. Becky loved to sneak up on me and say, "Here we have an example of the very rare mommy bird, a very rare species, very rare," in awkward Aussie. This was followed by a sometimes much needed hug. I guess it won't be funny any more.
For all of the controversy over his methods, Irwin certainly made an effort to remove our fear of dangerous reptiles, handling them as if they were cute and cuddly. He was killed by a stingray barb to his chest.
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This was the first bit of news we heard this morning on the radio... very sad.
Although (from sources I have) Steve was very safe and knowledgeable about animals and what his (or human's) limits are with them, it's a sad reminder that you can never take things for granted... and that wild animals are just that... wild.
The documentary he was filming was apparently on demystifying the stingray too...
We also had "Steve Irwin" comedy in my family... whenever it came to us having to do schlock news stories for the media or documentaries...
(Said with a faux-thick Australian accent...)
"Here we ah... lookin into the ghosts tryin' to git a good look at them and... there's one now... Wooo! He's a grumpy ghost! You're awright, mate, you're awright... He's a FIESTY ghost!"
Very sad...
Matthew, I agree that it is a sad loss especially for his wife and kids...and you cracked me up with your Steve Irwin speech. Take out the ghosts and insert farm related stuff and that is exactly what we do around here.
Rest in peace Steve Irwin ...
he will be missed
He had a reputation for being overdramatic and some dangerous behavior, but he did seem to be essentially serious about what he did and in fact said once that if he ever got killed around animals, it would happen in the water, because the water environment was more dangerous. Unfortunately he was right.
Apparently there is footage of his death, which I hope they don't show; but I heard someone in his family say that he would have wanted it shown. Not that I would want them to actually show it. But I think that's the kind of person he was, he knew he did dangerous stuff but never pretended it WASN'T dangerous. It would be true to his flamboyant but essentially honest character for him to want the footage shown.
He seemed like a good guy.
I personally don't want to see it, but I think you are probably right on all counts. He was certainly a cultural icon....
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