'Croc Hunter's' last moments caught on tape

[Cannikin]

CAIRNS, Australia - Steve Irwin was videotaped pulling a poisonous stingray barb from his chest in his last moments of life, officials said Tuesday, as tributes poured in for TV’s “Crocodile Hunter.”

Police said there was nothing suspicious about Irwin’s death and no evidence he provoked the animal. Irwin, 44, was stabbed through the heart on Monday while snorkeling with a stingray during filming of a new TV program on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

John Stainton, Irwin’s manager who was among the crew on the reef, said the fatal blow was caught on videotape, and described viewing the footage as having the “terrible” experience of watching a friend die.

“It shows that Steve came over the top of the ray and the tail came up, and spiked him here (in the chest), and he pulled it out and the next minute he’s gone,” Stainton told reporters in Cairns, where Irwin’s body was taken for an autopsy.

Queensland state police were holding the tape as evidence for a coroner’s inquiry — a standard procedure in high-profile deaths or those caused by other than natural causes.

Threats Irwin wasn’t used to

Experts have said the stingray may have felt trapped between the cameraman and the TV star. Irwin, the popular host of “Crocodile Hunter,” rose to fame by getting dangerously close to crocodiles, snakes and other beasts.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14675529/

[bridgit]

1. i'm not happy Irwin died, he did allot of good stuff, but in so far...

as his gig, he was always going for 'the money shot', and his money shots were fangs, teeth & venom

[Cannikin]

2. Exactly

[LostinVA]

4. He didn't die going for "the money shot."

[LaurenG]

3. He died doing what he loved

He said he wanted to be Tarzan and a Superhero for the wild animal kingdom. Yes he took risks but that was who he was. I'm sad that he's left us as he was an inspiration and had much to teach about wild creatures.

Everyone of us WILL die, why not do it having fun because we never know when it'll be our turn.

I pray that his family and friends can find comfort at this very difficult time.