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Dear Herp Friends;
I've never tried this before, but I'm cut-&-Paste about 7 pages of the english-language 1,200 press items out there on Mr Irwin's passing ... I'm not sure how many the system will handle. The interest in Mr Irwin is causing significant strain on various news postions of the internet.
respects all, Wes

THE AGE (Melbourne, Australia) 04 September 06 Daredevil Irwin dies doing what he loved
Wildlife warrior Steve Irwin was a daredevil who loved flirting with danger around deadly animals.
But after years of close shaves it was a normally harmless stingray which finally claimed his life on Monday, plunging a barb into the Crocodile Hunter's chest as he snorkelled in shallow water on the Great Barrier Reef.
The 44-year-old TV personality may have died instantly when struck by the stingray while filming a sequence for his eight-year-old daughter Bindi's new TV series, friends believe.
"You think about all the documentaries we've made and all the dangerous situations that we have been in, you always think `is this it, is this a day that maybe his demise?'," said his friend and manager John Stainton.
"(But) nothing would ever scare Steve or would worry him. He didn't have a fear of death at all."
Mr Irwin made his international reputation wrestling crocodiles and snakes.
But the flamboyant naturalist's final confrontation with a wild animal occurred at Batt Reef off Port Douglas on Monday morning, where he had been filming a new documentary, "Ocean's Deadliest".
Taking time off from the main project, Mr Irwin was swimming in shallow water, snorkelling as his cameraman filmed large bull rays.
"He came over the top of a stingray and the stingray's barb went up and went into his chest and put a hole into his heart," said Mr Irwin's friend and manager John Stainton.
"It's likely that he possibly died instantly when the barb hit him, and I don't think that he ... felt any pain.
"He died doing what he loved best."
Mr Irwin's death was only the third known stingray death in Australian waters, said shark and stingray expert Victoria Brims.
Wildlife experts said the normally passive creatures only sting in defence, striking with a bayonet-like barb when they feel threatened.
Marine documentary maker Ben Cropp, who spoke to one of Mr Irwin's crew, said: "Steve got probably maybe a bit too close to the ray, and with the cameraman in front, the ray must have felt sort of cornered.
"It went into a defensive mode, stopped, turned around and lashed out with its tail, which has a considerable spike on it.
"Unfortunately Steve was directly in its path and he took a fatal wound."
Unconscious, Mr Irwin was pulled aboard his research vessel, Croc One, for a 30-minute dash to Low Isle, where an emergency helicopter had been summoned at about 11am, his Australia Zoo said in a statement.
The crew of the Croc One performed constant CPR during the voyage to Low Isle, but medical staff pronounced Mr Irwin dead about noon.
Mr Irwin's body was flown to a morgue in Cairns, where stunned family and friends were gathering on Monday night.
His American-born wife Terri was told of her husband's death while on a walking tour in Tasmania, and returned to the Sunshine Coast with her two children, Bindi and three-year-old son Bob.
The death of the larger than life Mr Irwin, best known for his catchcry "Crikey!", caused shockwaves around the world, leading TV bulletins in the United States and Britain.
He was one of Australia's best known personalities internationally and an ambassador for the nation and its wildlife.
Mr Irwin was also a global phenomenon, making almost 50 documentaries which appeared on the cable TV channel Animal Planet, and which generated books, interactive games and even toy action figures.
Prime Minister John Howard said: "I am quite shocked and distressed at Steve Irwin's sudden, untimely and freakish death. It's a huge loss to Australia.
"He was a wonderful character. He was a passionate environmentalist. He brought joy and entertainment and excitement to millions of people."
Mourners laid flowers at the entrance of Mr Irwin's Australia Zoo, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
Mr Stainton said bad weather had stopped the filming for their documentary about some of the world's deadliest sea creatures.
Mr Irwin instead decided on a whim to shoot footage for his daughter Bindi's upcoming series.
"He said 'I might just go off and shoot some segments for Bindi's show, just stuff on the reef and little animals," Mr Stainton said.
"I just said fine, anything that would keep him moving and keep his adrenalin going.
"The next thing I heard on the radio was there was a medical emergency, the little dinghy he was in was bringing him back with the crew.
"Everyone tried absolutely tirelessly to revive him to keep him alive, we cut dinghies loose and made it post haste to Low Isle where we knew the chopper would be able to get in, but I think it's possible he probably died at 11am."
Diver Pete West was on a nearby boat and believed Mr Irwin may have been alive when pulled from the water.
"He was doing what he did best and unfortunately today he wasn't quick enough," he told the Seven Network.
University of Melbourne expert Bryan Fry said stingrays only sting in defence.
"They're not aggressive animals so the animal must have felt threatened. It didn't sting out of aggression, it stung out of fear," said Dr Fry, deputy director of the Australian Venom Research.
He said the stingray would have been up to 2.5 metres across, with a "formidable" jagged barb up to 20cm long, capable of tearing flesh.
"It's not the going in, it's the coming out," Dr Fry said of the serrated barb.
But the stingray's venom would not have been a factor.
Mr Irwin was comfortable around animals, no matter how dangerous, and some wildlife experts warned he took too many risks.
His enthusiasm and daring made him famous.
The Melbourne-born father of two's Crocodile Hunter program was first broadcast in 1992 and has been shown around the world on cable network Discovery.
He also starred in movies and helped develop the Australia Zoo wildlife park, north of Brisbane, which was started by his parents Bob and Lyn Irwin.
He grew up near crocodiles, trapping and removing them from populated areas and releasing them in his parents' park, which he took over in 1991.
Bob was involved in a controversial incident in January 2004, when his father held his infant son in one arm as he fed a dead chicken to a crocodile at Australia Zoo.
Child welfare and animal rights groups criticised his actions as irresponsible and tantamount to child abuse.
Mr Irwin said any danger to his son was only a perceived danger and that he was in complete control of the situation.
In June 2004, Mr Irwin came under fire again when it was alleged he came too close to and disturbed some whales, seals and penguins while filming a documentary in Antarctica.
Mr Irwin was also a tourism ambassador and was heavily involved in last year's "G'Day LA" tourism campaign.
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said Mr Irwin was an "extraordinary man".
"He has made an enormous difference to his state and his country," he said.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Daredevil-Irwin-dies-doing-what-he-loved/2006/09/04/1157222051588.html

DAILY TELEGRAPH (Sydney, Australia) 04 September 06 Milestones in the life of Steve Irwin
February 22, 1962 – Stephen Robert Irwin born in Essendon, Victoria, to Lyn and Bob Irwin.
1970 – The Irwin family moves to Queensland to start a small reptile park at Beerwah, on the Sunshine Coast.
1991 – Bob and Lyn Irwin retire, handing control of Australia Zoo to their son.
June 1992 – Irwin marries Terri Raines from Oregon USA.
1992 – Irwin and television producer John Stainton make the first documentary, The Crocodile Hunter in 1992, using footage from Irwin's crocodile-trapping honeymoon. Over the next three years, 10 one-hour episodes were made and on television screens all over the world.
July 24, 1998 – Irwin's daughter Bindi Sue Irwin was born. Her name is derived from two of her father's dogs.
2002 – Irwin's first feature film, The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, was released. In general, reviews of the film were negative.
December 1, 2003 – Irwin has a son, Robert (Bob) Clarence Irwin.
January 2004 – Irwin controversially carries his infant son, Bob, in one arm while using the other hand to feed a chicken carcass to a crocodile at Australia Zoo. Irwin claimed his son was never in danger, and consistently refused to apologise.
June 2004 – Irwin again was the subject of controversy over allegations he disturbed whales, seals and penguins while filming a documentary in Antarctica.
September 4, 2006 – Irwin dies after being struck in the chest by a stingray barb while filming an underwater documentary in the Great Barrier Reef, off the Low Isles near Port Douglas, in far north Queensland.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20351237-5001021,00.html

AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION 04 September 06 Tv Program Transcript - The life and times of Steve Irwin (Genevieve Hussey)
KERRY O'BRIEN: Welcome to the program, and first - the shock death of one of the nation's most famous personalities Steve Irwin. Today, the khaki clad 'Crocodile Hunter' and respected nationalist, who made a worldwide name for himself handling dangerous wildlife, was killed when a stingray barb punctured his chest while he was filming an underwater documentary on the Barrier Reef. Perhaps more famous in the United States even than here at home, Steve Irwin created a huge fan base and a multi-billion dollar business from his risk taking showmanship. Genevieve Hussey looks back at the life and times of Steve Irwin.
STEVE IRWIN: Get around, get around, get around.
GENEVIEVE HUSSEY, REPORTER: This is the kind of larger than life action that made self-styled Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin a household name.
STEVE IRWIN ON 'AUSTRALIAN STORY': Here's a weird thing most of us humans have is, you know, Steve Irwin is all pretty interesting on the telly or in the movie and that, but by crikey it's great when he gets bitten. These spitting cobras, they're highly venomous. Spit! And as luck would have it every now and again I do get bitten but I haven't been killed and it's that, you know, that sense of morbidity that people do have.
GENEVIEVE HUSSEY: Wrestling crocs, handling pythons and swimming with whales was in a day's work, exciting and potentially deadly.
STEVE IRWIN: Have a go at this whopper!
GENEVIEVE HUSSEY: But Irwin believed he had a special gift that enabled him to understand and communicate with animals.
STEVE IRWIN, 'ENOUGH ROPE': I kind of know what I can do so I get on my all fours and go up to these lions and sneak right up to them and Johnny Stainton who's round here somewhere, he's filming it, and he's like this: "What's he doing?" I get up to the lions and stand up and go "Hey" and they go "Wahh" and run off. How do you explain that? I don't know how to explain that.
GENEVIEVE HUSSEY: The danger helped make Steve Irwin an international television personality with a huge following in the United States.
DR FRANCES BONNER, CRITICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES, QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY: He was very different, he was very much a bloke and an Australian bloke and not even an ordinary Australian bloke, but an old fashioned working class Australian bloke. So that combination of the danger of the exotic wildlife and the exotic hypermasculine presenter I think was very telling there.
GENEVIEVE HUSSEY: Today, Steve Irwin was diving in far north Queensland filming a new wildlife documentary.
JOHN STAINTON, MANAGER: We were in the Cairns Port Douglas area filming a documentary for Animal Planet called 'Ocean's Deadliest' - an ironic term, which was basically looking at things that could kill you in the sea.
GENEVIEVE HUSSEY: He was wounded by the poisonous barb of a stingray, went into cardiac arrest and was unable to be revived.
JOHN STAINTON: He came over the top of the stingray and a barb, the stingray's barb went up and went into his chest and put a hole into his heart.
GENEVIEVE HUSSEY: Fatal stingray attacks are rare.
NICK BOYLE, SYDNEY AQUARIUM: For an accident like this to result in a death is a freak accident. It's extremely rare.
CNN NEWS COVERAGE: We begin in Australia where local reports are saying their famed Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin has died.
JOHN HOWARD, PRIME MINISTER: It's a huge loss to Australia. He was a wonderful character. He was a passionate environmentalist. He brought joy and entertainment and excitement to millions of people. He was a one off character.
PETER BEATTIE, QUEENSLAND PREMIER: He put Queensland and Australia on the international map. 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
GENEVIEVE HUSSEY: Steve Irwin was born in Victoria in 1962, but his family moved to the Sunshine Coast when he was eight-years-old and set up Australia Zoo. Irwin grew up surrounded by animals. His father a plumber with a passion for reptiles taught him to jump in and catch crocs in the rivers of north Queensland when he was just 9.
STEVE IRWIN: And that was absolutely the most incredible time of my entire life, for me, my dad and my family, running around up in north Queensland catching all these crocodiles.
GENEVIEVE HUSSEY: Steve Irwin's big break came when he started filming his exploits with an old camera his dad gave him. In 1992, Steve Irwin made his first documentary 'The Crocodile Hunter'.
STEVE IRWIN: Oh crikey!
GENEVIEVE HUSSEY: That same year, Steve Irwin met his wife to be Terri Raines, an American who shared his passion for wildlife conservation.
TERRI IRWIN, STEVE IRWIN'S WIFE: So after talking to him and finding out that he absolutely lives for his conservation work I was really attracted to those ethics and that really drew me in and I think I fell in love with his spirit before noticing those great shorts.
GENEVIEVE HUSSEY: Steve Irwin's television career flourished, particularly in the United States where he became a superstar.
ANDREW BERNSTEIN: Steve was the biggest star I've ever worked with. Being with him and seeing the people in the hotel lobbies in the morning when we leave signing autographs, the fans at the radio stations, the security that we needed just to get Steve in and out of public buildings, it was incredible.
CHRIS BROWN, TOURISM TASKFORCE: This was a guy who was without a doubt the best known Australian in America, leaving even the Greg Normans and the Paul Hogans and the Nicole Kidmans behind, and he also screamed and yelled "Australia" every time he was there.
GENEVIEVE HUSSEY: On the back of his international television success, Steve Irwin's tourist park on the Sunshine Coast Australia Zoo, also became big business. But his career was not without controversy. His decision to take his young son Bob into the crocodile pen brought condemnation.
STEVE IRWIN: If I could have my time again I'd do it all differently. I am so sorry that people have seen this as danger, but it's called perceived danger.
GENEVIEVE HUSSEY: Steve Irwin's real passion was conservation of wildlife.
STEVE IRWIN: You know, easily the greatest threat to the wildlife globally is the destruction and annihilation of habitat. So I've gone, "Right, how do I fix that?" I'm making a quid here, people are keen to give me money over there. I'll buy it, I'll buy habitat.
JOHN STAINTON, MANAGER: Today the world has lost a great wildlife icon, a passionate conservationist and one of the proudest dads on the planet. He died doing what he loved doing best. And he left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind. He would have said, "Crocs rule".
STEVE IRWIN: You never know what's out there.
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2006/s1732790.htm

THE AUSTRALIAN (Sydney, Australia) 04 September 06 Irwin made a difference, says manager
Steve Irwin's manager John Stainton said his good mate may have been known as The Crocodile Hunter but always hoped he made a difference in wildlife conservation.
Mr Irwin died when stabbed in the chest by a stingray's barb while filming off Port Douglas in far north Queensland today.
“He always believed that if he could change people's thinking and save a few animals – stop people running over snakes on the road or giving crocodiles a bit of space in this territory – and any large predators that do need to survive to make the world continue in its ecosystem, then he'd made some small dent in conservation,” Mr Stainton said in Cairns today.
“Today the world has lost a great wildlife icon, a passionate conservationist and one of the proudest dads on the planet.
“He left this world in a happy, peaceful state of mind. He would've said: 'Crocs rule”.”
Conservation organisation WWF passed on its condolences.
“Steve Irwin made an enormous contribution to conservation both in Australia and around the world and brought crucial conservation issues into the homes of millions of people,” a WWF spokesman said in a statement.
“Our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.”
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20351897-29277,00.html

NEWS.COM.AU (Australia) 04 September 06 Africa's great hunter salutes Irwin
Johannesburg (Reuters) AFRICA'S great crocodile hunter Khalid Hassen saluted his Australian counterpart today, saying the death of Steve Irwin by a stingray barb was an "unfitting" end for the fearless showman.
“I'm very upset to hear about it. I know that he led a dangerous life but it just doesn't seem right that a fish should kill him ... It is an unfitting death for him,” said Hassen.
Hassen has shot dead over 17,000 African crocodiles in a hunting career which has spanned over four decades.
“I thought he would perhaps get mauled by a crocodile but a stingray?,” he said by telephone from Blantyre, the commercial capital of Malawi.
Irwin died today after a stingray barb pierced his chest as he was filming an underwater documentary.
Irwin grew up near crocodiles in Australia, trapping and removing them from populated areas and releasing them in his parent's park. His wildlife documentaries and daring adventures brought him global fame.
Hassen, a successful Malawian businessman, has probably killed more crocodiles than anyone else but he said he had huge respect for Irwin and his non-lethal methods of trapping the big reptiles.
“He was a conservationist and I'm a hunter, I'm a killer,” said Hassen, who hunts at night by boat with a heavy calibre rifle in the waterways of southern Malawi, where dozens of peasants are attacked each year by man-eating crocodiles.
Hassen gives the meat to the locals and sells the skins.
He described Irwin as fearless.
“Nobody else has done what he did. He was really an outstanding person, he was fearless,” Hassen said.
“When he came to Africa he went into game parks and approached lions on a kill and he approached rhinos. Deep down he must have known that there was an element of great risk in what he was doing,” he said.
“Crocodiles are very unpredictable. They are like sharks in the ocean, you never know when they are going to strike.”
Hassen, a recognised wildlife expert himself, said Irwin knew what he was doing and had a deep understanding of wildlife.
“He was a showman but he had a great knowledge of all these things,” Hassen said.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20352122-1702,00.html

NEWS.COM.AU (Australia) 04 September 06 Irwin a modern-day Noah, says RSPCA
Animal welfare organisation the RSPCA said Steve Irwin was a modern day Noah because of his conservation work.
Mr Irwin died today after being pierced by a stingray barb while filming a documentary off north Queensland.
“His loss will be felt by animal lovers not just in Australia but all over the world,” said RSPCA Qld chief executive Mark Townend.
“He was a modern-day Noah and should be acknowledged as such.”
RSPCA Queensland spokesman Michael Beatty, who first worked with Steve Irwin when The Crocodile Hunter was just 15, said Mr Irwin's contribution to society would only truly be recognised in the years ahead.
“He put his money where his mouth was,” Mr Beatty said.
“Other people talked about it, Steve did it.
“His television series inspired millions of people all over the world to not only appreciate and understand wildlife, but to become active in the conservation movement.”
“Whether he was speaking to global leaders or ordinary Australians, Steve Irwin told it like it was.
“His death truly is a tragedy.
“Wildlife has lost its most vocal champion,” Mr Beatty said.
The thoughts of the staff from RSPCA Queensland were with Mr Irwin's wife Terri and his family, he said.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20350924-1702,00.html

THE AGE (Melbourne, Australia) 04 September 06 PM pays tribute to Croc Hunter
Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin was a typical Australian larrikin who brought joy to millions of people around the world, Prime Minister John Howard said on Monday.
Mr Irwin, 44, died while filming a documentary in far north Queensland.
The Australia Zoo owner and international television star is believed to have been killed by a stingray barb that pierced his chest while he was diving off Port Douglas.
"I am quite shocked and distressed at Steve Irwin's sudden, untimely and freakish death," Mr Howard told reporters.
"It's a huge loss to Australia.
"He was a wonderful character. He was a passionate environmentalist. He brought joy and entertainment and excitement to millions of people.
"He was a one-off character."
Clearly shocked, Mr Howard said Mr Irwin had fans around the world and his death was a huge loss.
"To his wife Terri and his two children, I extend the profound sympathy of myself and my government," he said.
"I knew the family very well. I visited the Australia Zoo on a number of occasions and I really do feel Australia has lost a wonderful and colourful son."
Mr Howard said Mr Irwin was the same in private as in public.
"He was the genuine article. What you saw was what you got," he said.
"He took risks, he enjoyed life. He brought immense joy to millions of people, particularly to children, and it's just such a terrible loss.
"I feel very distressed and I'm quite upset at the circumstances of it."
Mr Irwin was a huge tourist drawcard for the country and his death was a huge loss, the prime minister said.
"He was a magnet, he was a drawcard, and he was well known around the world. Everybody knew him. He was one of those great quintessential Australian faces that people recognised everywhere," he said.
"He was a larrikin, yes, but he was a really warm-hearted bloke as well and he cared passionately about Australia and he cared passionately about the Australian environment.
"I am so sorry and I think all Australians will feel a big loss."
Mr Howard declined to say whether he would offer the Irwin family a state funeral.
"I will talk to his family. I don't think we should get into that at this stage," he said.
Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley says Steve Irwin was a great ambassador for Australian larrikin values.
"The death of Steve Irwin is a terrible tragedy," Mr Beazley said.
"Steve Irwin was an Aussie battler made good.
"Through the Crocodile Hunter documentaries, he was a great ambassador for Australian larrikin values."
Mr Beazley said Mr Irwin took Australia to the world while as a natural educator and conservationist, he taught many Australians to love their own flora and fauna.
"I have no doubt his death will be mourned internationally."
The ALP sent its deepest condolences to his wife Terri and their children Bindi and Bob, Mr Beazley said.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/PM-pays-tribute-to-Croc-Hunter/2006/09/04/1157222059581.html

THE AUSTRALIAN (Sydney, Australia) 04 September 06 Doctor tells of treating Irwin
The doctor called in to treat Steve Irwin said his death after being struck by a stingray barb was "highly unusual".
Mr Irwin died soon after being hit by the barb while he was filming a documentary at Batt Reef, near Low Isles off Port Douglas in north Queensland.
Ed O'Loughlin was aboard the Emergency Management Queensland Helicopter which was called from Cairns at 11.21am (AEST).
Dr O'Loughlin said he had worked in north Queensland for several months and in Perth before that and had not come across a death from a stingray before.
"It would be highly unusual for a stingray to cause this type of injury," Dr O'Loughlin said.
Irwin, 44, was being given CPR at Low Isles as the helicopter arrived less than one hour after the incident but Dr O'Loughlin said nothing could be done to save him.
"It became clear fairly soon that he had non-survivable injuries," Dr O'Loughlin said.
"He had a penetrating injury to the left front of his chest."
"He had lost his pulse and wasn't breathing."
Dr O'Loughlin said it appeared Mr Irwin had suffered a "form of cardiac arrest" but a post-mortem examination would be conducted in Cairns.
Dr O'Loughlin said he did not initially recognise Mr Irwin when he arrived at Low Isle.
"Not immediately, no. Everyone was very focused on the task at hand and some things you might think you'd recognise instantly are second in your mind until the task at hand is accomplished,'' he told Channel 9.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20350632-1702,00.html

PC ADVISOR (London, UK) 04 September 06 Steve Irwin news devours bandwidth - Croc hunter's death brings down web
News of Australian crocodile hunter Steve Irwin's death had website traffic in overdrive today, with many news sites operating on low-bandwidth mode as a result of high traffic.
The spike spread across a number of news sites as internet users were unsure if the sad news was a possible hoax.
Many news outlets ran unconfirmed reports that the 44-year-old television personality and environmentalist died in a marine accident in North Queensland when stung on the chest by a stingray.
AAP (Australian Associated Press) said the news was official, and based on unnamed police sources.
Irwin was famous for his catchphrase 'crikey!'. AAP said his American-born wife, Terri, who is trekking on Cradle Mountain in Tasmania, was unaware of the news.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation today had this notice on its site: "Abc.net.au is experiencing higher than normal traffic. You are currently viewing a low bandwidth page. The normal homepage will return when traffic is back to normal."
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=6979

... less Asian and Arabic fonts ...

LIBÉRATION (Paris, France) 04 September 06 «Le» chasseur de crocodiles est mort (Jordan Pillet)
Archétype du «crocodile Hunter» (chasseur de crocodiles) australien, Steve Irwin est décédé lundi suite à une piqûre de raie pastenague. Star dans son pays, Irwin présentait depuis 1991, dans son éternelle tenue short et chemise kaki, l’émission «Crocodile Hunter». Propriétaire d’un zoo dans le nord-est de l’Australie, il avait également joué son propre rôle dans le film «Traqueur de Croco» de John Stainton. La popularité de son émission de télé diffusée dans tout le monde anglo-saxon lui avait aussi permis de faire une brève apparition dans «Dr Dolittle 2» aux côtés d’Eddie Murphy. Une popularité qu’il a su faire monter en 2004 quand devant les caméras de télé, il offre des poulets morts à des crocodiles, son nouveau-né dans les bras. Il avait justifié ce geste par le besoin d’éduquer les gens sur les dangers de la nature.
Une audace qui a finalement finit par lui coûter la vie. Lors du tournage d’une de ses émission près de la Grande Barrière de coral, il a été piqué par une raie pastenague.
Il avait commencé sa carrière de chasseur de crocodile dans le Queensland où ses parents possédaient un petit parc à reptiles. Jeune, Irwin offrait ses services à ses voisins pour pièger les sauriens qui trouvaient refuge dans les quartiers résidentiels. Irwin, père de deux enfants de huit et trois ans, avait 44 ans. La mort de cette icône nationale tourne en boucle sur toutes les radios et télévisions d’Australie. La ministre du Tourisme de l’Etat du Queensland, Margaret Keech, s’est fait l’écho du sentiment national. «Il a tellement fait pour l’Australie», a-t-elle déclaré sur une chaîne de télévision.
Lundi son site crocodilehunter.com était complétement saturé.
http://www.liberation.fr/actualite/instantanes/histoiredujour/202235.FR.php

WELT AM SONNTAG (Berlin, Germany) 04 September 06 TV-«Krokodiljäger» Irwin ums Leben gekommen
Sydney (Dpa): Sein Faible für Nahaufnahmen wurde ihm zum Verhängnis: Der australische TV-«Krokodiljäger» Steve Irwin ist bei Dreharbeiten für eine Meeres-Dokumentation ums Leben gekommen.
Der Stich eines Stachelrochens traf den 44-Jährigen ins Herz, berichteten australische Medien am Montag. Er habe bei dem Unfall vor der australischen Nordostküste bei Queensland keine Überlebenschance gehabt und sei durch Herzstillstand gestorben, sagte Notarzt Ed O'Laughlin.
Die TV-Serie «Crocodile Hunter», in der der stets hyper-aktive Irwin in khakifarbener Tropenkleidung durch die Wildnis streifte, hatte seinen eigenen Angaben zufolge weltweit rund 500 Millionen Zuschauer. Im deutschen Fernsehen war der Abenteurer auf RTL II zu sehen. Zuhause in Australien indes fühlte er sich bisweilen verkannt: «In meinem eigenen Land finden mich die Leute wohl ein bisschen peinlich», sagte Steve Irwin 2003 in einem Interview. 1991 hatte er den Zoo seiner Eltern an der Sunshine Coast im Bundesstaat Queensland übernommen und zu einer Touristenattraktion gemacht. Nur ein Jahr später begann seine erfolgreiche TV-Serie.
Irwin habe sich mit den Dreharbeiten so nahe an Stachelrochen in höchste Gefahr begeben, sagte der australische Naturfilmer David Ireland. «Sie haben einen oder zwei Stachel am Schwanz, die nicht nur von Gift umhüllt sind, sondern auch wie ein Bajonett wirken», erläuterte Ireland. «Wenn damit irgendein lebenswichtiges Organ getroffen wird, ist der Stachel tödlich wie ein Bajonett.»
«Es ist gefährlich, über einen Stachelrochen hinwegzuschwimmen», betonte auch ein Sprecher der Lebensrettungsgesellschaft von Queensland (SLSQ). Nach Angaben der Organisation gab es seit 1969 in Australien 17 Tote durch Stiche von Stachelrochen.
Der Meeresforscher Grant Willis aus Sydney sagte, dass Stachelrochen normalerweise nicht aggressiv seien: «Sie greifen nur dann an, wenn sie sich bedroht fühlen.» Auch der Biologe Bryan Fry von der Universität Melbourne meinte: «Der Rochen hat nicht aus Aggression, sondern aus Angst zugestochen.»
Für negative Schlagzeilen sorgte der Fernseh-Tierfreund Irwin, als er vor zwei Jahren vor laufender Kamera ein vier Meter langes Krokodil mit der Hand fütterte, während er seinen erst einen Monat alten Sohn Bob auf dem Arm hielt. Selbst treue Fans fragten sich damals, ob Irwin noch recht bei Sinnen ist. Viele fühlten sich an Pop-Sänger Michael Jackson erinnert, der 2002 sein Baby vom Balkon des Berliner Hotels «Adlon» hatte baumeln lassen. Wegen der scharfen öffentlichen Kritik zog sich Irwin in Australien zurück.
Australische Politiker und Tourismusmanager würdigten derweil die Verdienste des «Krokodiljägers». Der australische Ministerpräsident John Howard äußerte sich bestürzt über den Tod des Dokumentarfilmers. «Er liebte das Leben und brachte Millionen von Menschen Freude», sagte der Regierungschef. Irwin habe dem Bundesstaat und ganz Australien viel gegeben, sagte der Ministerpräsident von Queensland, Peter Beattie. «Eine Menge Leute auf der ganzen Welt, vor allem jüngere, werden heute sehr traurig sein.»
Der Chef des Tourismusrates, Matthew Hingerty, nannte Irwin eine «Australische Ikone», die dem Land hunderte Millionen Euro an Tourismuseinnahmen gebracht habe und somit hunderten Menschen einen Job. Steve Irwin hinterlässt eine Frau und zwei Kinder im Alter von drei und acht Jahren.
http://www.wams.de/appl/newsticker2/index.php?channel=ver&module=dpa&id=12556936

DIARIO LIBRE (Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic) 04 September 06 Muere en expedición "El cazador de cocodrilos"
Australia (AP): El ambientalista australiano Steve Irwin, mejor conocido internacionalmente como "Crocodile Hunter" (El cazador de cocodrilos), el título de su programa del canal Animal Planet, murió el lunes tras ser atacado por una mantarraya venenosa durante una expedición de buceo, reportó la policía.
Irwin, de 44 años, sufrió un colapso luego de ser picado en el pecho por el animal en Batt Reef, cerca de la isla Low, unos 2.100 kilómetros al norte de Brisbane, capital del estado australiano de Queensland.
El primer ministro John Howard, quien invitó a Irwin a un almuerzo con el presidente George W. Bush durante su visita a Australia en el 2003, dijo que estaba "impactado y contrariado por la muerte repentina y monstruosa" del ecologista.
"Es una gran pérdida para Australia", declaró Howard a la prensa. "Era un excelente personaje. Un ambientalista apasionado. Le brindó alegría y entretenimiento a millones de personas".
Un helicóptero con rescatistas acudió a la escena cuando el equipo del ambientalista activó la alarma, pero al llegar ya Irwin estaba muerto, precisió el informe policial.
Shaun Collin, experto de la Universidad de Queensland, comentó que se trataba de un caso de extrema mala suerte. "No es fácil ser picado por una mantarraya, y mucho más raro es morir" por esa causa. Su teoría es que el animal atacó directamente el corazón del presentador.
En esa zona, Irwin fundó un zoológico, donde vivía. También había creado una fundación para la preservación de la fauna salvaje, "Wildlife Warriors Worldwide", y patrocinado un hospital para animales silvestres.
El ministro australiano de relaciones exteriores, Alexander Downer, informó el lunes a través de su vocero que conocía a Irwin y apreciaba el trabajo que había hecho para promover internacionalmente los tesoros ecológicos de su país.
Además de la serie de documentales de "Crocodile Hunter", Irwin también condujo para esa estación los programas "Veterinarios a la vanguardia" y "Croc Files".
Su productor y mejor amigo, John Stainton, comentó el lunes que Irwin había muerto "haciendo lo que más amaba, y se fue feliz y en paz".
Tras conocerse la noticia, diversos sectores de la sociedad australiana manifestaron su pesar, y varios ramos de flores fueron colocados en las puertas del zoológico que fundó Irwin.
Al momento del accidente, Irwin filmaba una secuencia para la televisión. Estaba casado con la estadounidense Terri Irwin, con quien tuvo dos hijos: Bindi Sue y Bob, de 8 y 2 años de edad.
Según la página web del canal, al ser entrevistado sobre si alguna vez había sido lastimado por un animal, Irwin respondió: "Muchas veces. Cocodrilos, lagartos, caimanes y cientos de serpientes. Todos ellos tienen un pedacito de mí".
"He tenido muchos encuentros peligrosos, pero son realmente muy numerosos como para mencionarlos", agregó.
Su excentricidad y osadía frente a los animales puso a Irwin dos veces en el medio de escándalos: en enero del 2004, fue criticado por acercar a su bebé de un mes de nacido a un cocodrilo. Y en junio de aquel año salió invicto de un tribunal que lo acusó de haber alterado la vida animal al jugar con ballenas y pingüinos durante la filmación de un documental en la Antártida.
http://www.diariolibre.com/app/article.aspx?id=77834

O ESTADO DE SAO PAULO (Brazil) 04 September 06 "Caçador de crocodilos" morre ao ser atacado por raia - Steve Irwin, astro da televisão australiana, foi atingido por uma raia durante a gravação de um documentário
Sydnei (EFE): O "caçador de crocodilos", Steve Irwin, astro da televisão australiana, morreu nesta segunda-feira ao ser atingido pelo aguilhão de uma raia enquanto mergulhava para filmar um documentário sobre este animal.
O ator e naturalista australiano estava mergulhando perto de Cairns, em Low Isles, no litoral nordeste da Austrália, quando ocorreu o acidente.
O aguilhão da raia entrou no peito de Irwin e, aparentemente, atingiu o coração, matando o apresentador na hora, apesar de o veneno das raias não ser mortal para os humanos.
Irwin, que tinha 44 anos, se tornou famoso no mundo todo na década de 1990 graças à série televisiva "Caçador de Crocodilos".
O australiano tinha herdado o amor pelos répteis de seu pai, Bob Irwin, proprietário de uma fazenda de crocodilos na Sunshine Coast, no estado australiano de Queensland.
Irwin gerou polêmica várias vezes por seus atrevimentos, como dar de comer a um gigantesco crocodilo enquanto estava com seu bebê recém-nascido nos braços.
Em outra ocasião, na Antártida, o apresentador se aproximou muito das baleias, alimentando-as, e nadoucom pingüins e baleias durante a gravação de outro documentário, o que levou o primeiro-ministro australiano, John Howard, a defendê-lo publicamente.
http://www.estadao.com.br/arteelazer/noticias/2006/set/04/21.htm

LA STAMPA (Torino, Italy) 04 September 06 La Puntura Di Una Razza Mette Fine Alla Carriera Del Documentarista - Muore Steve Irwin, il cacciatore di coccodrilli - L'australiano era noto per i suoi show televisivi. Aveva 44 anni, lascia la moglie e due figli
Brisbane: Uno dei più noti cacciatori di coccodrilli dell'Australia, Steve Irwin, è morto dopo essere stato trafitto al cuore dall'aculeo di un pesce, una pastinaca, mentre stava girando un documentario sottomarino. Irwin, 44 anni, era famoso per i suoi show televisivi nei quali maneggiava coccodrilli, ragni e serpenti.
Alcuni anni fa aveva provocato numerose polemiche mostrandosi in pubblico mentre con un mano nutriva un coccodrillo affamato di quattro metri, e con l'altra teneva il figlioletto di pochi mesi, nel suo «Australia zoo», nello stato australiano del Queensland. Irwin, che lascia una moglie e due figli, stava girando un documentario sulla barriera corallina presso Cairns, nel Queensland, quando è stato ucciso.
Il «cacciatore di coccodrilli» era salpato a bordo della sua barca «Croc One» e si era diretto a nord est di Port Douglas per poi immergersi sott'acqua e iniziare le riprese di un documentario. Il dardo della coda della pastinaca, una specie di razza nota anche come trigone, lo ha trafitto nella parte sinistra del petto e si ritiene che Irwin sia morto per arresto cardiaco. Inutili sono stati i soccorsi, prontamente giunti in elicottero. Irwin aveva costruito la sua carriera sulla continua sfida agli animali più pericolosi.
Figlio d'arte - il suo Australia Zoo era stato fondato dai genitori - amava raccontare di aver ricevuto un pericoloso pitone per il suo sesto compleanno e di aver cominciato a cacciare a mani nude i coccodrilli marini fin dall'età di nove anni. Abile imprenditore di sè stesso, con il grido di battaglia «Crickey» e la caratteristica tenuta kaki, era diventato una celebrità internazionale grazie alla sua serie televisiva «Crocodile Hunter» diffusa sulla rete Tv via cavo Animal Planet, dalla quale era stato tratto anche un film. Aveva interpretato un breve cameo accanto ad Eddie Murphy nel film «Dr.Doolittle 2» ed era spesso ospite di trasmissioni televisive negli Stati Uniti.
Quando il presidente americano George Bush era venuto in visita a Canberra nel 2004, Irwin era stato uno degli ospiti al grande barbecue nella residenza del primo ministro e, naturalmente, si era presentato nel suo abbigliamento da cacciatore di coccodrilli. Spaccone ed esagerato, Irwin era spesso criticato in patria, ma era diventato un simbolo dell'Australia, con migliaia di persone che giungevano da tutto il mondo nel suo Zoo, nello stato del Queensland.
Grazie alla sua influenza, ricorda il Consiglio per il Turismo, vi era stato un aumento dell'afflusso di visitatori nel paese con guadagni per milioni di dollari e la creazione di centinaia di posti di lavoro. Appena si è sparsa la notizia della sua morte, davanti ai cancelli dell'Australia Zoo è cominciato un pellegrinaggio di fans che lasciano mazzi di fiori in segno di lutto. Irwin lascia una moglie di origine americana, Terri, che lo affiancava nell'attività di promozione, e due figli: Bob, 3 anni e una bambina, Bindi Sue, 8 anni.
Proprio Bob, alla sola età di un mese, era stato nel 2003 protagonista involontario dell'episodio del coccodrillo, che aveva provocato innumerevoli controversie e proteste. Irwin teneva il neonato in braccio mentre gettava un pollo vivo in pasto ad un coccodrillo marino, di fronte ad un pubblico pagante. Da allora il «Crocodile Hunter» aveva tenuto un profilo più basso.
http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/esteri/200609articoli/10118girata.asp

DE VOLKSKRANT (Amsterdam, Netherlands) 04 September 06 Crocodile hunter Steve Irwin overleden
Photo: Fans van 'The Crocodile Hunter' leggen bloemen bij zijn dierenpark in Queensland (AP)

Sydney (ANP): Steve Irwin, de Australische televisiepresentator die bekend is als The Crocodile Hunter, is dood. De 44-jarige Irwin stierf maandagmiddag (plaatselijke tijd) nadat hij tijdens het duiken voor de Australische noordoostkust in het hart werd gestoken door een pijlstaartrog.
UitlegIrwin was bezig met het maken van een onderwaterdocumentaire toen het ongeluk gebeurde. Kort nadat de pijlstaartrog hem had aangevallen, arriveerde een helikopter met medische hulp, maar het was te laat, meldde de nieuwszender ABC.
Irwins vrouw Terri, die vaak te zien was in zijn programma's, is volgens de Australische media nog niet op de hoogte van de dood van haar man. Zij maakt momenteel een trektocht door afgelegen bergachtig gebied in Tasmanië.
Irwin, die in 1962 in de Australische provincie Victoria werd geboren, kreeg de liefde voor reptielen mee van zijn vader Bob. Die opende in 1970 een reptielenpark in Queensland. Irwin nam dat in 1991 over en ontwikkelde het tot Australia Zoo.
In 1992 begon hij met het maken van televisieprogramma's. Hij maakte toen de eerste reeks van ‘Crocodile Hunter', waarin hij na al die jaren nog steeds te zien is in hetzelfde ‘uniform': khaki shorts en laarzen. Nadat het programma op de Amerikaanse televisie was verschenen, werd hij beroemd in de hele wereld. Zijn fans roemen zijn enthousiaste en vaak ook wel roekeloos lijkende benadering van roofdieren, zelfs de gevaarlijkste. Zijn uitroep ‘Crikey’ maakte het Australische dialect populair.
Behalve zijn vrouw Terri waren ook zijn kinderen - de nu acht jaar oude Bindi en de bijna drie jaar oude Bob - te zien in Irwins tv-programma's. In 2004 kreeg hij kritiek van zelfs zijn ferventste aanhangers toen hij zijn een maand oude zoontje Bob op de arm had terwijl hij een krokodil in zijn dierenpark voederde.
Een pijlstaartrog kan een diameter van ongeveer 2,5 meter bereiken. Het dier heeft staartstekels met een sterk gif. Pijlstaartroggen zijn niet agressief in hun gebruik van het gif. Volgens deskundigen steken zij alleen als zij zich in het nauw gebracht voelen.
http://www.volkskrant.nl/buitenland/article345811.ece/Crocodile_hunter_Steve_Irwin_overleden/

DIE BURGER (Cape Town, S Africa) 04 September 06 Pylstertvis eis ‘krokodiljagter’ se lewe
(Sapa) Steve Irwin, die Australiese televisiepersoonlikheid en omgewingsbewaarder ook bekend as die Krokodiljagter, is vroeër vandag dood ná ’n steek deur ’n pylstertvis.
Die 44-jarige Irwin was besig met die verfilming van ’n onderwater-dokumentêre film op die Great Barrier-rif in die noordoostelike Queensland-deelstaat toe die ongeluk plaasgevind het, volgens The Daily Telegraph in Sydney se webwerf.
Die Australiese uitsaaikorporasie het gesê Irwin was besig om te duik by die Low Isles-rif naby die vakansie-oorddorpie van Port Douglas, sowat 2100 km noord van Brisbane toe die ongeluk plaasgevind het.
Mnr. Bob Hamil, ’n woordvoerder vir die Queensland ambulansdiens, het bevestig dat ’n duiker doodgemaak is deur ’n pylstertvis by die Lowe Isles-rif, maar het gesê die persoon se naam kon nie bekend gemaak word voor sy familie in kennis gestel is nie.
’n Reddingshelikopter is gestuur van die naasliggende stad Cairns en paramedici daarop het die duiker se dood bevestig.
“Die waarskynlike oorsaak van sy dood is pylstertvis-steek in die borskas,” het Hamil gesê.
Irwin was bekend vir sy geesdrif vir natuurlewe en sy vangskreet “Crikey” in sy televisieprogram, Crocodile Hunter, wat in 1992 afgeskop het en wêreldwyd uitgesaai is op Discovery channel.
Hy word oorleef deur sy Amerikaanse vrou, Terri, dogter Bindi Sue (8) en seun Bob (3).
http://www.dieburger.com/Stories/News/11.0.1080774485.aspx

BERGENSAVISEN (Bergen, Norway) 04 September 06 Krokodillejeger Steve Irwin er død
Oslo (ANB): Den kjente australske krokodillejegeren Steve Irwin (44) døde mandag etter å ha blitt stukket av en piggrokke. – Han døde mens han gjorde det han likte best, sier en venn.
– Verden har mistet et stort villmarksikon, en lidenskapelig miljøverner og en av de stolteste fedrene på planeten, sier John Stainton, Irwins venn og produsenter.
– Han døde mens han gjorde det han likte best, og forlot denne verden lykkelig og fredfull. Crocs Rule! sier Stainton.
Stukket i brystet
Den kjente australske TV-personligheten, også kjent som «The Crocodile Hunter», døde mandag morgen etter at han ble stukket i brystet av en piggrokke i havet utenfor Queensland, nordøst i Australia.
Irwin, som er kjent for en rekke dokumentarer der han har nærkontakt med krokodiller, filmet en sekvens til en ny serie om korallrevet Great Barrier Reef da det merkelige uhellet skjedde. Irwin skal ha blitt drept da piggen gikk gjennom brystet hans og angivelig inn i hjertet.
Ifølge avisen The Herald Sun er det blitt hevdet at dokumentaren hadde som hensikt å avmystifisere piggrokka.
Sjokkerte australiere
Nyheten om dødsfallet har sjokkert australierne, og statsminister John Howard var raskt ute med en kondolanse. Han sier Irwin var en typisk australsk bølle som brakte glede til millioner av mennesker verden over.
– Dette er et stort tap for Australia, sier Howard, som ble sjokkert og trist over nyheten.
Kunne ikke gjøre noe
Legehelikopteret kom til ulykkesstedet en snau time etter ulykken, men det var lite de kunne gjøre for å redde den populære villmarkshelten.
– Det ble tidlig klart at han hadde skader som det ikke var mulig å overleve, sier lege Ed O'Loughlin.
– Han hadde et gjennomtrengende sår på venstre siden av brystet. Han hadde mistet pulsen, og pustet ikke, sier O'Loughlin.
Irwin etterlater seg kone og to barn på åtte og tre år.
http://www.ba.no/nyheter/urix/article2271890.ece

FYENS STIFTSTIDENDE (Odense, Denmark) 04 September 06 Krokodillejægeren død til havs - Den verdenskendte krokodillejæger, Steve Irwin, blev stukket i brystkassen af en pilrokke.
(Af Ritzaus Bureau) Steve Irwin, Australiens verdenskendte krokodillejæger og miljøforkæmper, er død efter en ulykke til havs. Det rapporterer australske medier mandag.
Ifølge det australske nyhedsbureau, AAP, blev Irwin dræbt, da han blev stukket i brystkassen af en pilrokke.
Ulykken skete ud for Australiens nordøstlige kyst under optagelserne til et tv-program.
Den 44-årige Steve Irwin har vundet international anerkendelse for sit tv-program "The Crocodile Hunter", hvor han har udmærket sig som en varm fortaler for dyrebeskyttelse.
Irwins tv-programmer har gjort ham kendt som hele verdens vovehals, når han med stor entusiasme og en djærv australsk accent indfangede giftige slanger, komodovaraner og krokodiller for at øge opmærksomheden om de frygtede dyr.
Australsk politi bekræftede Irwins død mandag morgen og meddelte, at familien er underrettet.
http://www.fyens.dk/article/686337

AFTONBLADET (Stockholm, Sweden) 04 September 06 Stingrockan stack hål i hjärtat.( Susanna Vidlund)
"Krokodiljägaren" Steve Irwin dödad vid filminspelning
Steve Irwin som är känd världen över som "Crocodile Hunter" i tv har avlidit, rapporterar australiska tidningar.
Tv-stjärnan dödades av en stingrocka under en tv-inspelning.
- Han simmade över stingrockan och den stack honom rakt i hjärtat, säger producenten och vännen John Stainton.
Den australiska tv-personligheten blev känd för sin stora entusiasm för djurriket, sin förkärlek för krokodiler och andra reptiler och sitt favorituttryck "Crikey!".
Steve Irwin blev 44 år. Han omkom vid en dykolycka i Port Douglas i norra Queensland, Australien. Han filmade en undervattensdokumentär när en giftig stingrocka stack honom.
Såg blod i vattnet
– Han simmade ovanför rockan när taggen träffade honom i bröstet och stack hål i hjärtat, säger vännen och producenten John Stainton som blev vittne till händelsen.
Kameramannen sa vid tillfället att han först inte visste att Steve hade blivit träffad, sedan såg han blod i vattnet, berättar han för australiska ABC.
Stjärnan flögs med helikopter till Cairnes men hans liv gick inte att rädda. En läkare fanns med ombord och Steve Irwin dödförklarades innan de kom fram till sjukhuset. Hans fru Terri Irwin var inte med vid olyckstillfället utan ska ha vandrat i de tasmanska Cradle-bergen.
"Dödlig som en bajonett"
Stingrockan är en platt, triangelformad fisk som är vanlig i tropiska vatten. Sitt namn har den fått av den giftiga taggen på sin stjärt. Det är ovanligt att människor dör efter att ha stuckits av en stingrocka, men enligt experten David Ireland kan den vara dödlig.
– Om den träffar vitala organ är den lika dödlig som en bajonett, säger han till The australian news.
Växte upp med krokodiler
Enligt John Stainton dog Steve medan han gjorde det han tyckte allra bäst om.
– Idag har världen förlorat en stor vildmarksikon, en passionerad miljökämpe och en av de stoltaste papporna på den här planeten, säger han till ABC.
Steve Irwin prisades för sina tv-program men väckte också raseri när han 2004 höll sin en månad gamla son Robert på armen medan han matade en fyra meter krokodil på sitt Australia zoo i Beerwah. Showen kallades "Bobs krokodilmatningsdebut"
Fru och två barn
Själv tyckte han att det var mycket väsen över ingenting.
– När jag var en liten pojke gjorde min pappa samma sak för mig. Faktum är att när jag var nio år lät han mig hoppa ner, hålla fast och fånga min första krokodil, sade han då.
Steve Irwin fick två barn tillsammans med sin fru Terri Irwin – en dotter som heter Bindi Sue, åtta år, och sonen Robert som idag är två år.
En naturbegåvning
Steve Irwin var en publikfavorit och hans program började sändas i Australien 1992 och har sänts runtom i världen i Discovery Channel. Han var en publikfavorit även om många i branschen inte såg honom med lika blida ögon.
– Han ansågs inte vara riktigt seriös utan showade mer men nog kunde han en del. Man behöver inte vara universitetsutbildad för att kunna något om djur. Han arbetade också med ett duktigt team och omgav sig med kunskap, säger Jonas Wahlström som är chef för Skansenakvariet.
http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/nyheter/story/0,2789,881639,00.html

MAGYAR NEMZET (Budapest, Hungary) 04 September 06 Rája végzett a Krokodilvadásszal
(MNO) Búvárbalesetben életét vesztette a Krokodilvadász című sorozat főszereplője, az ausztrál Steve Irwin.
A 44 éves fanatikus hüllőbarátot egy tüskés rája sebezte meg a mellkasán, miközben egy dokumentumfilmet készített a Nagy-korallzátonynál - írja BBc nyomán az inforadio.hu.
A queenslandi rendőrség közölte: Steve Irwin szervezete összeomlott a mérges marás után.
Steve Irwin Queensland kis hüllőparkjából építette ki a ma Ausztrália Állatkert néven ismert létesítményt, amely a kontinens vadvilágának központi bemutatóhelyévé vált.
A természetbarát-televíziós arról vált híressé, hogy puszta kézzel nyúlt az olyan veszélyes állatokhoz is, mint például a krokodil, a mérges kígyók és pókok. Tevékenységének egyik legvitatottabb pillanata az volt, amikor egy krokodilshow-ban egészen közel vitte egyhónapos kisfiát egy hatalmas hüllőhöz.
Ritka baleset
A tüskés rája lapos, háromszög alakú hal, amely a trópusi vizekben él. Nevét a farka végén található mérgező tüskéről kapta, amelyet védekezésre használ.
Annak ellenére, hogy mérge halálos, az Irwinéhez hasonló esetek nagyon ritkák. David Penberthy, a Sydney Daily Telegraph szerkesztője a BBC-nek azt mondta, hogy eddig nem hallott senkiről, akit tüskés rája ölt volna meg Ausztráliában.
http://www.mno.hu/index.mno?cikk=372193&rvt=127&norel=1&PHPSESSID=a4a2496cc3a58918b0d9bc230e05ad49&pass=2

BERNAMA (Malaysia) 04 September 06 "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin Mati Diserang Ikan Pari (Oleh Neville D'Cruz)
Melbourne: Steve Irwin "The Crocodile Hunter", yang dikenali ramai di seluruh dunia melalui siri dokumentari berkaitan hidupan liar, meninggal dunia hari Isnin akibat diserang seekor ikan pari di kawasan Great Barrier Reef.
Irwin, 44, dipercayai menemui ajal kerana jantungnya tertusuk duri ikan itu ketika melakukan penggambaran bagi satu siri televisyen di Batt Reef, berhampiran Low Isles, kira-kira 32 batu nautika dari Port Douglas, di utara Queensland.
Jurucakap perkhidmatan Ambulans Queensland berkata sebuah helikopter melakukan penerbangan kecemasan ke sebuah pulau di kawasan itu pada kira-kira pukul 11 pagi.
Katanya walaupun seorang doktor dan anggota paramedik memberi rawatan yang sewajarnya, namun mereka gagal menyelamatkan nyawa penangkap buaya itu.
Irwin disahkan meninggal dunia di pulau berkenaan dan mayatnya diterbangkan ke Cairns.
Prof Geoff Jones dari Jabatan Biologi Samudera, James Cook University berkata kejadian itu adalah sesuatu yang luar biasa dan ada kemungkinan Irwin meninggal dunia akibat tusukan duri ikan itu.
"Ia umpama ditikam dengan bayonet. Jika ia dibiarkan di situ, mangsa tidak akan mati, tapi jika ia ditarik, disurung dan ditarik berkali-kali, saya rasa mangsa akan mati akibat kehilangan banyak darah," katanya.
Irwin terkenal di seluruh dunia kerana minat dan kebolehannya menjinakkan haiwan ganas.
Mendiang juga pernah berlakon dalam beberapa filem dan bertanggungjawab memajukan sebuah taman hidupan liar di Zoo Australia, di utara Brisbane, yang diasaskan ibu bapanya Bob dan Lyn Irwin.
Irwin dan isterinya Terri mempunyai sepasang cahaya mata, Bindi Sue Irwin, 8, dan Robert (Bob) Clarence Irwin, 3. Nahas itu berlaku ketika Irwin sekeluarga melakukan pengembaraan di Tasmania.
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/bm/news.php?id=217949

НАУКА/ NAUKA (Moscow, Russia) 04 September 06 Смертельный Удар От Ската-Шипохвоста Получил "Охотник За Крокодилами"
Погиб знаменитый австралийский актер и шоумен Стив Ирвин. Во время съемок очередного фильма о животных "охотник за крокодилами" был убит ударом ската-шипохвоста. Вертолет с медиками прибыл к пострадавшему слишком поздно, и спасти его не удалось.
Как стало известно, инцидент произошел на севере австралийского штата Квинсленд, в районе города Порт-Дуглас. Стив участвовал в съемках фильма о подводном мире Австралии. Предположительно, во время одного из погружений, шипохвостый скат своим ударом проколол актеру сердце и часть легких.
Виктория Бримс, эксперт из Сиднея, предполагает, что агрессия животного была спровоцирована: "Я знаю, что он снимал документальный фильм. Могу предположить, что он пытался взять на руки животное или слишком приблизился к нему, так что животное испугалось и вынуждено было защищаться".
Кроме того, Бримс уточнила, что для большинства людей такое ранение, например в ногу, не имеет столь серьезных последствий, это равноценно небольшой инфекции. Ранение Стиву было нанесено в область сердца, видимо, это могло вызвать реакцию. Шипы скатов очень сильные, кроме того, при прикосновении к ним выделяется яд.
Подобный инцидент уже происходил два года назад на съемках, но в тот раз пострадавшему была вовремя оказана медицинская помощь.
Впервые программа "Охотник на крокодилов" вышла в эфир в 1992 году. Стив сумел превратить в торговую марку имидж бесстрашного и полного энтузиазма любителя изучать фауну в близком контакте, и его сериал с большим успехом шел по всему миру по каналу Discovery.
Стив Ирвин родился в австралийском штате Виктория в 1962 году. Его отец создал парк пресмыкающихся в штате Квинсленд в 70-е годы прошлого столетия.
С 1991 года Стив Ирвин продолжил семейный бизнес и вскоре создал первые серии фильма "Охотник за крокодилами" (Crocodile Hunter), который стал популярным во всем мире.
У 44-летнего Стива Ирвина остались двое детей, Бинди Сью и Боб Кларенс. Его жена Терри работала вместе с ним, ассистировала на съемках. Об этом сообщает РИА "Новости".
http://www.inauka.ru/news/article67037.html

ВЕЧЕРНИЙ ХАРЬКОВ/ EVENING KHARKOV (Kharkov, Ukraine) 04 September 06 Погиб знаменитый "охотник за крокодилами" Стив Ирвин
Погиб знаменитый австралийский актер и шоумен Стив Ирвин. Во время съемок очередного фильма о животных "охотник за крокодилами" был убит ударом ската-шипохвоста. Вертолет с медиками прибыл к пострадавшему слишком поздно, и спасти его не удалось.
Как стало известно, инцидент произошел на севере австралийского штата Квинсленд, в районе города Порт-Дуглас. Стив участвовал в съемках фильма о подводном мире Австралии. Предположительно, во время одного из погружений, шипохвостый скат своим ударом проколол актеру сердце и часть легких.
Виктория Бримс, эксперт из Сиднея, предполагает, что агрессия животного была спровоцирована: "Я знаю, что он снимал документальный фильм. Могу предположить, что он пытался взять на руки животное или слишком приблизился к нему, так что животное испугалось и вынуждено было защищаться".
Кроме того, Бримс уточнила, что для большинства людей такое ранение, например в ногу, не имеет столь серьезных последствий, это равноценно небольшой инфекции. Ранение Стиву было нанесено в область сердца, видимо, это могло вызвать реакцию. Шипы скатов очень сильные, кроме того, при прикосновении к ним выделяется яд.
Подобный инцидент уже происходил два года назад на съемках, но в тот раз пострадавшему была вовремя оказана медицинская помощь.
Справка
Впервые программа "Охотник на крокодилов" вышла в эфир в 1992 году. Стив сумел превратить в торговую марку имидж бесстрашного и полного энтузиазма любителя изучать фауну в близком контакте, и его сериал с большим успехом шел по всему миру по каналу Discovery.
Стив Ирвин родился в австралийском штате Виктория в 1962 году. Его отец создал парк пресмыкающихся в штате Квинсленд в 70-е годы прошлого столетия.
С 1991 года Стив Ирвин продолжил семейный бизнес и вскоре создал первые серии фильма "Охотник за крокодилами" (Crocodile Hunter), который стал популярным во всем мире.
У 44-летнего Стива Ирвина остались двое детей, Бинди Сью и Боб Кларенс. Его жена Терри работала вместе с ним, ассистировала на съемках.
http://www.vecherniy.kharkov.ua/ind2.php?id=5815&Division=incident

ТЕЛЕГРАФА / TELEGRAPH (Minsk, Belarus) 04 September 06 "Охотник на крокодилов" Стив Ирвин трагически погиб от удара ската
Популярный австралийский ведущий Стив Ирвин погиб в понедельник от удара ската. Трагический инцидент произошел во время подводных съемок, когда на 44-летнего натуралиста напал скат и ударил Ирвина в грудь. На место срочно вылетел медицинский вертолет, однако к его прибытию ведущий программы Crocodile Hunter был уже мертв.
Оператор, который работал в паре со Стивом Ирвином, считает, что причиной смерти стал сердечный приступ, который произошел в результате укола ската, передает Reuters. Коллега Ирвина, австралийский документалист Дэвид Айрлэнд, был потрясен смертью товарища. "У ската на хвосте есть два огромных шипа, покрытых ядом, удар которых очень опасен", - прокомментировал он произошедшее.
"Если удар подобным шипом придется в жизненно важный орган, смерть почти неминуема", - добавил Дэвид Айрлэнд.
Родился Стив Ирвин в 1962 году в австралийском городе Мельбурн. Чуть позже его родители переехали в Куинслэнд (Queensland), где они основали небольшой тематический парк, посвященный различным рептилиям и местной фауне. В 1991 году Стив принял на себя управление им и изменил название на Australia Zoo. Известность же ему принес бесподобный стиль общения с дикими и опасными животными, с которыми на экране он всегда был "на короткой ноге".
В 2004 году ему пришлось прекратить несколько своих проектов после того, как общественность раскритиковала его отношение к некоторым животным: съемки фильмов стали мешать нормальному функционированию популяции китов и пингвинов в Антарктике.
За всю свою карьеру Стив Ирвин ни разу не получил ни одной серьезной травмы. Единственными представителями животного мира, от кого он постоянно терпел посягательства, были попугаи. "Я не знаю, что они имеют против меня, но они всегда норовят меня укусить", - сказал как-то в одном интервью Стив Ирвин.
http://www.telegraf.by/oddnews/2006/09/04/crocodile_irwin/

Dear Kingsnake.com Herp News Friends; The following are my modest selections of the best of the many 06 Sep news items out there on Mr Irwin. One by a noted herpetologist, and update on funeral arrangements, and the last on 'ripple effects' of Mr Irwin's passing.. respects, Wes

EXPRESS INDIA (New Delhi) 06 September 06 Last walk on the wild side (Rom Whitaker)
I had heard ‘‘Steve Irwin died’’ twice before. Turned out to be rumours. I was used to that, my own guru, Bill Haast, of iMiami Serpentarium fame, had been bitten by venomous snakes more than 150 times and over the decades, since my stint of working for him in the ’60s, it was routine for a rumour to be circulated that the most snake-bitten man in the world is dead.
But tuning in to CNN made it real: one of the world’s wildest TV presenters, husband, father and conservation activist was killed by a stingray spine through the heart.
Like any high profile character, Steve was loved, admired, imitated as well as lampooned, criticised and even hated. A lot of friends express mixed feelings about his in-your-face presence on TV. The Americans seem to love him whereas the Australians are much more critical.
His Discovery Channel shows (more than 50 of them!) were packed full of action and good facts and for me the bottom line was that he turned so many people on to the wonders of reptiles. I’ve spent most of my life trying in some way or the other to get people on the side of reptiles: demystify them, value them for the rodents and other pests they destroy or just for their intrinsic beauty and wonderful strangeness.
Steve succeeded beyond all belief in getting perhaps hundreds of millions of human TV viewers, (conditioned and taught to loathe reptiles and creepy crawlies in general) to watch, accept, sympathise with, and perhaps even appreciate snakes, lizards, turtles and crocodiles. Suddenly reptiles were cool, the in-thing for every young lad and lass (and some grown ups too) to be hung up on.
It’s strange, several of my snorkelling buddies and I talked about how we felt, swimming along close to the sandy sea floor where stingrays love to bury themselves, out of sight. “What if we swam close over a buried ray?” we’d wonder, “It’s likely that it would feel threatened and defend itself”, the only way this timid creature knows how is by arching its long, whip-tail and projecting its deadly barbed spike up into the intruder, ouch! But this was just talk, we had heard about needle-nosed garfish leaping into the air and impaling a luckless fisherman but never a fatal stab from a stingray.
Steve’s incredible energy and boundless enthusiasm for the creatures that have the lowest PR in the world will be missed by everyone and our thoughts are with his family at this very tough moment.
Romulus Whitaker is a fellow wildlife conservationist
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=200158

THE TIMES (London, UK) 06 September 06 Crocodile hunter leaves acres of hope for wildlife (Bernard Lagan)
Photo: Mourners at Thailand's Ayutthaya Elephant Park pay tribute to Steve Irwin yesterday (Sukree Sukplang / Reuters)
Sydney: As Australia mourned the death of the naturalist and film-maker Steve Irwin it emerged yesterday that he had quietly purchased 90,000 acres of land to save threatened species.
Irwin, 44, who was killed on Monday by a stingray while filming an undersea documentary, had bought the land,about the size of the Isle of Wight, to preserve the habitat of koalas and porcupine-like echidnas threatened by land clearance.
He had repeatedly urged individuals as well as corporations to buy and preserve the habitats of threatened species. “You know, easily the greatest threat to the wildlife globally is the destruction and annihilation of habitat. So I’ve gone, ‘Right, well, how do I fix that?’ Well, making a quid here. People are keen to give me money over there. I’ll buy it. I’ll buy habitat,” he said in an interview. Most of the land is in Queensland.
After viewing footage of his final moments, Queensland police said yesterday that Irwin had not been intimidating the fish that killed him.
The naturalist died after being stabbed in the heart by the barbed tail of a bull stingray, thought to weigh about 220lb (100kg), during filming on the Great Barrier Reef. The footage shows Irwin swimming above the ray when it lashes out with its tail, a movement performed when stingrays feel threatened. Irwin then pulls the serrated barb from his chest.
“He pulled it out and the next minute he’s gone,” John Stainton, Irwin’s manager and friend, said. “The cameraman had to shut down. It’s a very hard thing to watch because you’re actually witnessing somebody die . . . it’s terrible.”
Although the barb, which can measure up to 8in (20cm), delivers powerful venom, scientists said that the trauma inflicted by the serrated bone had probably killed Irwin.
John Howard, the Prime Minister, interrupted Parliament yesterday to pay tribute to Irwin. He said that his death had shocked and horrified people and “brought forth an outpouring of grief and an outpouring of emotional expressions of regard for this remarkable man around the world”.
Hundreds of fans placed flowers and tributes, including messages on khaki shirts similar to those Irwin wore, outside his Australia Zoo in Queensland. His family has been given the option of a state funeral.
In Thailand 20 elephant keepers put up a poster of Irwin and laid a wreath before holding a minute’s silence and a reading of a tribute at the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace, 50 miles north of Bangkok. Irwin is said to have promised a donation of a million baht (£14,000) to an elephant project.
Princess Rangsinopdol Yugala said: “Steve lived life as if on the wing of the dragon. His spirit matched our ancient Thai warriors who fearlessly rode the great musth elephants into battles.”
Discovery Networks, which owns the cable TV channel that screens Irwin’s documentaries, said that it had not decided whether to screen the footage of his death.
No state funeral for Steve - father
"Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, killed in a freak stingray attack, would not have wanted a state funeral because he was "an ordinary bloke" and wanted to be remembered that way, the TV star's father has said. In the first comments by Irwin's family since the hugely-popular naturalist died on Monday, Bob Irwin thanked his son's many fans for their messages of support. Irwin senior, who moved his family to the fringe of the Outback in the 1970s to open a reptile park that inspired his young son's obsession with wildlife, said he was deeply saddened but said his son died doing what he loved.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2344440,00.html

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD (Australia) 06 September 06 The one story on a champion promoter that spread by itself (Stephen Hutcheon and Louisa Hearn)
News of Steve Irwin's death spread rapidly across the internet. The web measurement company Hitwise said Australian internet traffic to media websites on Monday hit its highest point since the Beaconsfield mine rescue in May.
Within 30 minutes of the story appearing on smh.com.au it was the day's most viewed story.
The BBC's live internet monitor reported traffic was more than 50 per cent above normal.
The ABC's news site temporarily crashed, before returning with a home page that displayed only the story that everyone wanted to read. The story quickly climbed to the top of Google News, which tracks 45000 news sources.
It was the leading story on the CNN, USA Today, New York Times and CBS sites.
Irwin-related searches filled the top three places on Technorati, which tracks 53 million blogs.
The official Crocodile Hunter site rocketed from 36th place to become the No.1 entertainment personality website in Australia, and from 516th to third in the US, according to Hitwise.
There were 40 per cent more page impressions and 70 per cent more visitors to smh.com.au on Monday than last week's weekday average. Yesterday stories on Irwin's death made a clean sweep of the top 10 most viewed stories, the first time this has happened.
On the BBC news site it was the most viewed and most emailed story, and the most watched video report. On Wikipedia, "Steve Irwin" and "stingray" were the top two topic-specific search terms.
Opportunists wasted no time placing Irwin paraphernalia on the auction site eBay. Of 152 items placed yesterday and on Monday, 149 were Irwin-related.
The items, mainly being sold by Australians, included Irwin mugs and figurines, as well as copies of national and local newspapers. A poster signed by Irwin had attracted bids of more than $2000 last night.
Fans also posted tributes and snippets from television news reports on video-sharing sites such as YouTube and Google Video.
No scams exploiting interest in Irwin's death had been detected, but they were likely, said MacLeonard Starkey of the computer emergency response team Auscert. "What I would expect to see in the next couple of days or weeks is some kind of malicious code or Trojan using Steve Irwin's death as a hook to click on some links," he said.
Online Phenomenon
* "Crocodile Hunter" was the most emailed or most searched-for term on The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and The Guardian websites.
* Irwin's death was the most viewed and most emailed story, and the most watched video report on BBC news.
* Reports about his death made it into every place on the top 10 list of most viewed stories on smh.com.au and theage.com.au, the first time that has happened.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/the-one-story-on-a-champion-promoter-that-spread-by-itself/2006/09/05/1157222132678.html

I hope that Steves memorial service will be screened on TV so we fans in the UK (& everywhere) will be able to join in the celebration of this wonderful mans life
does anyone know?
Patricia x

Steve you are a legend

As of 8 PM Syracuse NY time, Mon 11 Sep, there's nothing on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (their CNN) or the Brisbane newspapers about confirmed arrangements for a Steve Irwin memorial later this week. Australian authorities are still trying to coordinate a venue for what is expected to be a massive event.

I'm skating the AUS press as often as my circumstances allow, and will post as soon as I find something appropriate.

I don't doubt that 'vid clips' will be available on various news services, but I'll keep an eye out for any indication that it will be broadcast 'live'.

'IF' it is broadcast live from Brisbane, you may want to consult "http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html' to determine what time you'll have to get up in you time zone to watch it on satellite or I-net broadcast.

respects

Wes

many thanks for your reply Wes!
take care, Patricia x

No decision as of 12 Sep 6.30 PM Australia time ... nor as of 12 Sep 11 AM Syracuse NY time ...

COURIER MAIL (Australia) 13 September 06 Decision on Irwin service (Glenis Green)
Final details for a memorial service for Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin would be revealed this morning, friend and business manager John Stainton said yesterday.
Mr Stainton said reports that the service would be held next Wednesday had not been confirmed, but Tuesday had been ruled out because it clashed with the Victorian state funeral of motor racing icon Peter Brock.
While the venue for Irwin's memorial was also yet to be confirmed, there was widespread speculation last night that it could be at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre at Boondall.
"It's a bit early (to say) just yet," he told The Courier-Mail.
"But we'll have a decision by tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, with as many details as we can."
The mountain of flowers which has grown outside Irwin's Australia Zoo at Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast since Monday last week would eventually be composted and put on the zoo gardens, zoo media manager Peter Lang said.
He said every card and message would be kept for widow Terri and children Bindi, 8, and Bob, 2, to see, while the dozens of signed Crocodile Hunter khaki shirts would be kept for part of a permanent display inside the zoo.
Meanwhile, Irwin's fans have not only opened their hearts but also their wallets in response to their hero's death, donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to help continue his wildlife conservation.
Michael Hornby, the executive manager of Irwin's conservation charity Wildlife Warriors Worldwide, said while he had yet to put an accurate figure on the total to date it was believed to be more than $1 million, with about 55 donations being made every 10 minutes.
However. it also appears that Irwin's death might also have brought out the worst in some people.
Unconfirmed reports that stingrays were being killed were condemned by the Crocodile Hunter's supporters.
"The reports are saddening, whether these attacks are being carried out in response to Steve's passing or otherwise," Mr Hornby said.
"Stingrays are beautiful creatures and play an important role in the environment. I hope everyone can understand that we have to protect wildlife now more than ever – this is what Steve was all about."
In another tribute to Irwin, seven-times Golden Guitar winner Colin Buchanan has penned a ballad – Goodbye Crocodile Hunter – saying that while they had never met, he was touched by his death and the depth of the sense of loss being shown by fans.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20401961-3102,00.html

THE AGE (Melbourne, Australia) 13 September 06 Free entry for Irwin service
(AAP) Steve Irwin's heartbroken widow has told of losing her soul mate, as plans were announced for a public memorial service at the Crocodile Hunter's wildlife park.
Terri Irwin was due to hold a news conference today outside Australia Zoo to announce details of the service for her husband, but was too upset.
The service will be held at 9am (AEST) next Wednesday. Australia Zoo and Ticketek at Brisbane and Maroochydore, on the Sunshine Coast, will distribute 3,000 free tickets to the memorial from 9am on Friday.
At the news conference today, Steve Irwin's father, Bob Irwin, read a prepared statement from Terri Irwin in which she thanked the public for their "overwhelming outpouring of love, support and prayers for my family".
She referred to Steve as her "soul mate" and "wildlife warrior".
Mrs Irwin has remained in seclusion with her children Bindi, eight, and two-year-old Bob, since Steve Irwin's death from a stingray barb to the chest in an incident on the Great Barrier Reef on September 4.
Steve Irwin's business manager, John Stainton, said Mrs Irwin had wanted to address the public today but was still struggling too much with her grief to speak.
But he said she and Bindi would address the memorial service to be held at the 5,500-seat Crocoseum at Australia Zoo, north of Brisbane, next Wednesday.
Mrs Irwin said in the statement she knew larger Brisbane venues, such as Suncorp Stadium and the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, had been earmarked for the service.
"However, it is my wish that the memorial service be held here in the Crocoseum at Australia Zoo which is where Steve would have wanted it," she said.
"I cannot see how a memorial service for Steve would work in any other place other than the Crocoseum which he built here at the zoo and of which he was so proud.
"I would therefore ask that everyone please bear with me in this wish and help me to make this happen."
She understood many people would not be able to attend, so the family would work with local and state governments to supply large TV screens at venues at Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
And the service would be broadcast on television live through the ABC to Australia, Asia and the US.
Mr Stainton said it would be a tribute to Steve's life, from the boy to the man, with guests sharing their memories of him.
He said John Williamson would perform Steve's favourite song, True Blue, but the memorial would not be an "elaborate variety show".
"It's more a tribute to his life and a celebration of what Steve was about," he said.
"We're going to try to cover as many facets of his whole entire life from when he was a little boy to when he left us."
Mr Stainton had said earlier that tickets could be reserved by making a donation to Steve Irwin's charity, Wildlife Warriors.
But he later said Australia Zoo and Ticketek at Brisbane and Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast will distribute 3,000 free tickets to the memorial from this Friday.
Free entry for Irwin service

Many thanks for letting me know, I can't get ABC chanel, being in the UK any ideas how I will be able to view?
as I don't want to miss this special event
kind regards, P

Nothing yet on television coverage for Europe or Africa ... I'll try to skate it down but details remain sketchy. I trust that you'll be able to follow it live if CNN (USA) or MSNINE (Australia) carries the service on their websites (and I'm sure the latter service will).

COURIER MAIL (Brisbane, Australia) 13 September 06 Irwin tickets available Friday (Glenis Green)
Australians and overseas visitors are expected to queue possibly immediately to obtain one of just 3000 tickets to Steve Irwin's memorial service to be released on Friday.
Of the 3000 tickets, 1000 will be available through the Ticketek booth at the Myer centre in Elizabeth Street in Brisbane.
Another 1000 will be available at a Ticketek booth at the Myer store at the Sunshine Plaza at Maroochydore.
The other 1000 tickets will be available at the Australia Zoo box office at Beerwah.
The rest of the 5,500 seats at the Crocoseum at Australia Zoo are expected to be occupied by family, friends, media, and others.
Each person will be limited to four tickets.
All tickets will available from 9am Friday and there will be no charge.
The memorial service will take place at the Crocoseam at 9am next Wednesday.Wes Note: 20 Sep 9 AM in Brisbane translates to 19 Sep 7 PM New York USA/Ottawa Canada time; and Midnight 19/20 Sep London UK time. Please check your own timings to make sure that I have not miscalculated
A police spokeswoman said officers were working on a plan of action to deal with the crowds of people who were expected to queue for tickets.
Mr Irwin's manager and close friend John Stainton said the service would involve guests sharing their memories of Mr Irwin, with John Williamson to perform the Crocodile Hunter's favourite song, True Blue.
The service will also be broadcast on the Nine Network and possibly other networks, while discussions were underway to have the service broadcast in Asia and the US.
Irwin tickets available Friday