Update: Australia's croco-doco man killed by stingray

Sep 4, 2006, 7:48 GMT

Sydney - Australian crocodile hunter and zookeeper extraordinaire Steve Irwin died Monday after being speared in the heart by the barb of a stingray while filming a marine documentary off Cairns in far-north Queensland.

A helicopter was called out to the dive boat but the 44-year-old was pronounced dead. It was thought he died from cardiac arrest.

'It became clear fairly soon that he had non-survivable injuries,' Ed O'Laughlin, the doctor called out to treat Irwin, said. 'He had a penetrating injury to the left front of his chest. He had lost his pulse and wasn't breathing.'

Irwin took over the Australia Zoo on Queensland's Sunshine Coast from his parents in 1991 and turned it into a major tourist attraction. The following year he produced and starred in a blisteringly successful television series called the Crocodile Hunter.

The hyper-active khaki-clad animal lover claimed the series had a worldwide television audience of 500 million. He frequently complained that his talents were better appreciated abroad than in his homeland.

'When I see what's happened all over the world, they're looking at me as this very popular wildlife warrior Australian bloke,' he said in 2003. 'And yet back here in my own country some people find me a little bit embarrassing.'

The following year he embarrassed himself and damaged the Crocodile Hunter brand when he was filmed at Australia Zoo feeding chicken to a 4-metre crocodile with one hand and holding month-old son Bob in the other.

The stunt, performed in front of a paying audience, had fans around the world wondering whether he had taken leave of his senses. It drew instant comparisons with the outrageous behaviour of pop star Michael Jackson, who in 2002 dangled his baby over the balcony of a German hotel.

Following the stunt, Irwin took a much lower profile in his homeland.

Australian Tourism Export Council head Matthew Hingerty described Irwin as a 'true Aussie icon' who had built Australia Zoo into a an enormous drawcard.

'The influence of the Crocodile Hunter across the world contributed in bringing millions of tourist dollars into Australia and in employing hundreds of Australians,' Hingerty said.

Queensland premier Peter Beattie said Irwin had made a huge contribution to the state and to the country.

'There'll be a lot of people around the world, particularly young kids, who will be very distressed today,' Beattie said.

Fellow Australian wildlife filmmaker David Ireland said trying to shoot stingrays up close was a perilous exercise.

'They have one or two barbs in the tails which are not only coated with toxic material but which are also like a bayonet,' Ireland said. 'If it hits any vital organ, it's as deadly as a bayonet.'

At the gates of the Australia Zoo floral tributes began to build up as news spread of Irwin's death. Lesley Manks, huddled there with other tearful mourners, told Australia's AAP news agency: 'When I first heard it I couldn't believe it. It was like hearing of the death of a really great friend. It's hard. It's hit home.'

Irwin leaves a wife, American-born Terri, and two children. Bob is now 3. His sister, Bindi Sue, is 8.