If you have ever watched the Crocodile Hunter on tv, you would know that Steve Irwin was one of the craziest guys ever to fill the small screen. And that is precisely what made him so exciting to watch. He'd chase down a deadly poisonous snake, snatch it by the tail, and dangle it in his own face with a glowing description of why the snake was so beautiful and wonderful. I don't think he ever faked it. He did love wild animals and the deadlier and uglier they were, the more he loved them. Why else would he rappel several hundred feet to the bottom of an isolated, arid canyon and stick his bare hands in the cracks and undersides of rocks to find creatures whose sting or strike could kill? I think everyone knew his days were numbered.
He finally met his match in the sea, of all places. He was stung to death by a sea ray. When I read this on the internet news I was stunned. He leaves behind a wife who obviously was fascinated by his livelihood, and yet who had more reserve than her husband when it came to handling dangerous wild animals. And two children. I know they must be devastated. I will really, really miss him. And even though I am sure his re-runs will continue to be avidly watched, it won't be the same. He won't be strutting around in the world with his idotic grin and wonderful Aussie accent, enthusiastically championing the poisonous ugly critters we all love to hate, and that makes the world a less happy place.
I am sure there will be those who say he got what he deserved. He shouldn't have been messing with dangerous animals. If you watch the animal channel on cable, you know there have been quite a few animal lovers killed by the animals they handled. Circus trainers attacked by everything from elephants to tigers. Snake handlers bitten once too many times. Naturalists studying bears. There are even documented attacks on humans by dolphins in pools. But I am sure each and every one of these people realized there was danger, and death was always a possibility. I think they hope they will be lucky at the same time they understand they are putting themselves in harm's way. But they do it anyway, and I don't think they can help themselves. They love animals and injury and death are the risks they consider worth taking. Even though I am sorry he won't be around, I can't feel sorry for a man who died doing what he loved. I do feel sorry for his kids who don't get to grow up with their famous dad. Dang! I wish he would have been just a LITTLE more careful this time!
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4 comments:
Imagine dying doing what you love.
Unless you were to fall asleep and never wake up, dying doing what you love has to be the next best thing. He probably died very quickly from the poisonous barb to the heart.
i read the article on cnn.com and it said that his shoot was cancelled so he decided to film some scenes for a tv show him & his daughter was working on. he swam over a sting ray that was hiding in the sand and it felt trapped. ironically, he filmed his own death. my heart goes out to his kids and wife. what a horrible thing to have to go thru!
Yes, he always said if he died doing his job at least it would be on camera. But hopefully that won't be shown on tv, unless someone really lowdown and skanky gets ahold of it.
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