Crikey! Steve Irwin Is Dead...

Steve Irwin died doing what he loved best, working with one of the dangerous animals he dedicated his life to protecting with an irrepressible, effervescent personality that propelled him to global fame as television's "Crocodile Hunter."

“Crikey!” was his catch phrase, repeated whenever there was a close call during his televison programs, delivered with a broad smile, an Australian twang and big arm gestures.

The forty-four year old Irwin's heart was pierced by the serrated, poisonous spine of a stingray as he swam with the creature.

Irwin created an empire out of flirting with the world's most dangerous creatures - both on land and in the sea - and was filming a documentary, Ocean's Deadliest, when the tragedy occurred.

It’s seems a lot like when I heard the news that Christopher Reeve fell from his horse and broke his back. Even though I am aware that he was just an actor, it's was something that I just couldn't believe would happen to Superman. You know what I mean?

Steve Irwin was kind of like the “Superman” of the wild. No matter how close he got to a dangerous or poisonous creature or how crazy what he was doing looked like - Steve was always going to be safe because of his passion and knowledge for what he was doing.

Conservationists said all the world would feel the loss of Irwin, who turned a childhood love of snakes and lizards and knowledge learned at his parents’ side into a message of wildlife preservation that reached a television audience that reportedly exceeded two hundred million.

He was a committed conservationist, running a wildlife park for crocodiles and other Australian fauna, including kangaroos, koalas and possums, and using some of his televsion wealth to buy tracts of land for use as natural habitat.

I will really miss watching his wacky antics while being educated about exotic animals. He seemed like such a good hearted person with a great sense of humor.

Some people live a very long very safe life. Some people live a bit differently. I think Steve got all he could out of life. He lived and died on his own terms. I think he did die doing what he loved best.