Krikey!!!

Shortly after 11:00am local time on 4 September 2006, Irwin was fatally pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while diving off Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef. The events were caught on camera and the footage is now in the possession of Queensland Police.[22] He had been filming a segment for his daughter Bindi’s upcoming television series. Irwin was in the area filming his own documentary, to be called Ocean’s Deadliest, but weather had stalled filming. Irwin decided to take the opportunity to film some shallow water shots for his daughter’s television program.[23] After reviewing the footage of the incident and speaking to the cameraman who recorded it, documentarian and former shark hunter Ben Cropp speculated that the stingray “felt threatened because Steve was alongside and there was the cameraman ahead…”[22] In such a case, the animal responds by automatically flexing the serrated barb on its tail, which is up to 30 centimeters in length, upward. In this case, the motion struck Irwin’s chest and pierced his heart.[22] Crewmembers aboard his boat called emergency services in the nearest city 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.