"Grieving fans of conservationist and entertainer Steve Irwin have been flooding the airwaves, the internet, his zoo and everywhere else to express their sadness over his death.
Since Irwin's death from a stingray barb in far north Queensland was announced yesterday (9/4/2006), people have been laying flowers and mementos at Australia Zoo, the Irwin family park at Beerwah, north of Brisbane."
The lovable larrikan, known worldwide as the Crocodile Hunter may not have been a Territorian, but his love of all creatures, including crocodiles makes him one of us.////
From a newspaper article, friend John Stainton described the shocking accident that he viewed on the final film footage.
"Friend John Stainton said the footage of the stingray attack which took the life of the Crocodile Hunter on the Great Barrier Reef yesterday was "shocking".
Mr Irwin, 44, died after the stingray barb punctured his chest while snorkelling off Port Douglas, in far north Queensland, yesterday.
A cameraman captured the incident during filming for Irwin's new project with daughter Bindi, eight, that was to debut in the United States next year.
"I did see the footage and it's shocking," Mr Stainton said today in Cairns.
"It's a very hard thing to watch because you're actually witnessing somebody die ... and it's terrible."
Mr Stainton, also a producer and director of Irwin's popular television shows, said the footage showed Mr Irwin pulling the barb out of his chest before losing consciousness."
The family declined offers from the Federal and State government of a state funeral, with Mr Irwin's father Robert saying his son was an "ordinary bloke".
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Thousands of Australians will be able to pay tribute to "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin at a public memorial to be held at the "Crocoseum" in his beloved Australia Zoo on 20/9/06.
The television naturalist's wife, United States-born Terri Irwin, said on Wednesday 13/9/06 : "I cannot see how a memorial service would work in any place other than the Crocoseum, which he built here at the zoo and of which he was so proud."
Large screens will be set up in Brisbane and near Irwin's Zoo on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland so that those unable to get into the zoo can watch the proceedings.
Irwin's family and friends held a private funeral service, which included stories told around a campfire, at the zoo in the weekend of after his death.
Thursday 15 November 2007 - Steve Irwin Day
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