Steve Irwin was truly one-of-a-kind. The charismatic Australian dedicated his life to improving the lives of animals around the world, while also educating and entertaining people in the process. He was loved and admired by many for his incredible passion.

Although his line of work was inherently dangerous, his untimely death at the age of 44 in 2006 was still a shock. When you consider that this man fearlessly wrestled crocodiles, swam with sharks, and handled venomous snakes, his tragic end at the hands of a stingray is even more unexpected.

The news of Irwin’s passing devastated his fans worldwide, who offered their condolences and tributes. Finding solace in the fact that he died doing what he loved, protecting animals, brought some comfort. It’s heartwarming to know that Irwin had a protocol in place, ensuring that the cameras would continue rolling, even in times of extreme danger.

According to Irwin’s IMDb biography, Tommy Donovan, Irwin instructed his camera crew to never stop filming. He believed that if he ever needed help, he would ask for it. Even in the face of danger, Irwin wanted to capture everything on tape. As Donovan put it, “If he died, he would be sad if no one got it on tape.”

On September 4, 2006, tragedy struck near Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Irwin had chosen to film a stingray segment for his daughter Bindi’s show, “Bindi the Jungle Girl,” as inclement weather had delayed filming for his show, “Ocean’s Deadliest.”

John Stainton, a close friend and director, recalled that on that fateful day, they were all feeling bored, so they decided to take a small boat to Batt Reef to film some footage. Little did they know that it would lead to an encounter with a normally harmless stingray. It was meant to be a harmless encounter for a children’s program.

As Irwin and his colleague, Justin Lyons, waded into the water up to their chests, they spotted a 220-pound stingray resting on the ocean floor, hoping it would swim away. However, as Irwin crossed over the ray, it struck back, delivering numerous strikes within seconds.

While the cameras continued to roll, Justin assisted Irwin in getting back on board, and they hurried in the direction of Croc One, the main ship. “He was struggling to breathe,” Justin recalled. “Even if we had reached an emergency ward immediately, it’s likely we couldn’t have saved him due to the extensive damage to his heart.”

According to The Mirror, while his crew desperately tried to stop the bleeding, Irwin’s final words were a solemn realization of his condition: “I’m dying.”

Once back on Croc One, Justin performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on Steve for an hour. Unfortunately, by the time paramedics arrived, the beloved zookeeper, known for his enthusiasm, humor, and daring deeds in wildlife conservation, had already passed away.

Somewhere, footage of the entire tragic incident, from the moment Irwin was stung to the moment of his passing, reportedly still exists. In the days following his friend’s death, John Stainton expressed his desire for the footage to be destroyed and never see the light of day. He had already seen it and had no desire to see it again.

In 2007, authorities revealed that all but one copy of the film had been destroyed. Steve’s wife, Terri Irwin, admitted in 2018 that she had never watched the actual film that she had been entrusted with. She questioned the need to see it, as she already knew the circumstances surrounding her husband’s passing. According to reports, a copy of the film is still kept securely in a police vault.

Personally, I deeply miss watching Steve Irwin’s broadcasts. He was a role model until the very end, and the fact that his legacy lives on today is a testament to his incredible fame.

Steve Irwin’s impact on animal conservation and his unique way of connecting with people will always be remembered. If you were also a fan of the late Steve Irwin, please SHARE this article!

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