[JakeyBoy]

What a shocker! I was always hoping for a croc to take him...

[No1MakosiFan]

Yeah, i have just heard. Its a total shock to me. I always though he was stark raving mad, but liked him at the same time.

RIP Steve.

[InTheHood]

The good always die young.

A lover of nature like Steve is a rarity in this world. I thought he was a bit OTT, but a good person.

[Rory]

Seriously!? That's terrible.

[InTheHood]

Tributes are flowing in for naturalist and TV star Steve Irwin who has died after a diving accident off far north Queensland.

Politicians, tourism industry figures and members of the public are expressing sympathy for the family and friends of Irwin, who was stung through the heart by a stingray while diving off Port Douglas.

Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley says Irwin was a great ambassador for the country.

"This is terribly, terribly tragic news. It spread through the Parliament like wildfire at Question Time and I know I speak on behalf of my parliamentary colleagues on both sides of the chamber when we express our deepest condolences to Steve's wife Terri and all the family," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Mark Vaile has praised Irwin for his contribution to wildlife conservation.

Mr Vaile says he was a tremendous fan and says Irwin made an amazing contribution to business and conservation.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie says Irwin was a fine ambassador for his country.

"He was a great Australian, he was obviously a great Queenslander, but he put Queensland and Australia on the international map," he said.

"I mean I can remember going to the United States where people would not know the Prime Minister of Australia but they knew Steve Irwin."

Industry in shock

One of Australia's major tourism groups says the country has lost a magnificent ambassador.

Christopher Brown from the Tourism and Transport Forum says Irwin touched the lives of people around the world.

"It's almost an ironic confirmation of his life. He wasn't fake. He was really out there doing that stuff. He didn't have stunt men. He didn't have camera tricks," he said.

"He was out there interacting one-on-one with a camera at his side, bringing nature to the world, and it's a sad irony but for a guy who's spent his life trying to protect nature, eventually his death was caused by it."

The Australian Tourism Export Council says the industry is in a state of shock.

Managing director Matthew Hingery says Irwin was a fantastic ambassador for Australia and particularly for Queensland.

He says Irwin was known across the world and his work helped to bring millions of tourist dollars into Australia.

The director of Alice Springs Reptile Centre says Irwin helped boost the business of reptile parks across the country.

Rex Neindorf, who worked with Irwin in Alice Springs, says his death will come as a shock to the industry.

"His work bringing reptiles to the attention of everyone around the world is what has brought reptiles to the front of everyone's mind, so for small parks like mine, we've definitely had a lift from his work over the years," he said.

'Absolute shock'

Queensland radio talkback callers have expressed their sadness at the news of Irwin's death.

"This whole area will be in absolute mourning and shock," said one caller.

"I've just gone down to the zoo to place flowers at the front entrance and the staff look so devastated," said another caller.

"I guess in a way, as sad as it is, what a lucky man because he did, he went doing what he absolutely loved and lived for," added another.

Irwin is survived by his wife and two children

[InTheHood]

THE fatal stingray attack on Steve Irwin may have occurred because the animal was startled or frightened, an expert said today.

Victoria Brims, a marine life expert from Oceanworld in Sydney, said the stingray that killed Irwin was most likely provoked.

"I am aware he was filming a documentary and his documentaries are usually very hands on. I can only assume that he had some kind of hands on or close contact with the animal who like us when we get afraid defended itself," Ms Brims said.

Brims also said that for a sting to result in death the person involved had to be stung close to the heart and also have a reaction to the sting.

"For the most part people get stung on the foot when they accidentally tread on a ray and this can be no worse than a bacterial infection," Ms Brims said.

"Their barbs are very strong and release poison if touched. It must have got him right near the heart but the barb would not have gone through his chest."

There was an accident of this kind two years ago in Coogee but the man involved was treated by medics at the scene and survived the incident.

Brims said she had always dreamed of meeting Irwin. "He can be a bit quirky at times but he loved his work," she said. "It is a sad day and I am sure everyone around the world will hear of his death."

[Ruth]

Originally posted by JakeyBoy
What a shocker! I was always hoping for a croc to take him...

That's a bit nasty, don't you think?

It's very sad news. He was a passionate environmentalist and always seemed like a very decent man.

[lily.]

It's very sad... however, I'm sure he would rather have left this world in that manner, than to have been ran down by a bus or suchlike... he lived for the danger of the wild, and that's what killed him...

Very tragic though.. especially for his wife and children...

R.I.P. Crazy Croc Man!

[JakeyBoy]

Originally posted by Ruth

That's a bit nasty, don't you think?

Nope

I hated the guy... sorry, but I did. He made Australians have some stereotype thing and I despised it. But still, I do feel bad for his family

[gemmalou]

I can't believe it.
Its very sad especially as hes only in his forties and has 2 young children.

[Diablo]

I liked him.. but I think it was knida inevitible that something like this would happen. Just because of the way he did things..

[MarkWaldorf]

I cant believe it

[Bells]

OMG shocking! He was always so outrageous, and if anything I thought something would happen to him whilst doing dangerous stuff. I didn't expect him to like, you know, die.

RIP.

[JakeyBoy]

I can just picture the crocs going

"Gee, we waited too long"

[bonnie43uk]

He'll be handling crocs in heavan now .. Um, that does'nt sound right does it .. do they have Crocs and snakes in heavan??

damn you religion for confusing us!!!!!!

[Mike]

Shocking news, he was such a good bloke.

[Dan_]

I was pretty shocked to see it on teletext.My condolences go out to his family,his kids are only young

[bonnie43uk]

i've stroked stingrays in the London aquairium, they are pretty harmless .. i smell a rat here, i wonder if the Americans wanted to take him out for his anti- american views on Iraq.

damn you Bush .. for taking us into an winnable war on terror!!!

.. let the conspiracy theory's begin!!

( stung by a stingray myass)!!

[BigSister]

I didnt even know about this until I came on TIBB and other forums im oretty shocked

[bonnie43uk]

Originally posted by BigSister
I didnt even know about this until I came on TIBB and other forums Im oretty shocked

.. you must be strong Big Sister, this has hit us terribly, the entire nation is in deep shock, this totally overshadows Lady Di's death, and 9/11 put together.

Steve Irwin was the greatest croc handler in the world, bar none.
If Tony Blair does'nt shut down the entire country in respect i will never vote for him again!

BE STRONG BIG SISTER, WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. BE STRONG.

[Lil-Lindz]

Omg, thats terrible
Steve was a great guy, allways did whats right for animals
I only saw it on here, Omg!!

[Ruth]

What's with people making jokes about it? If you didn't like him, fair enough, but there's no reason to make fun of his death.

[MarkWaldorf]

Originally posted by Ruth
What's with people making jokes about it? If you didn't like him, fair enough, but there's no reason to make fun of his death.

Only Jakeyboy is

[Lil-Lindz]

How can people make a joke when someone has died

[MarkWaldorf]

Originally posted by Lil-Lindz
How can people make a joke when someone has died

Ask him that