In 2006, Steve Irwin aka ‘The Crocodile Hunter’ left a mark on the world as people all over the planet mourned his loss.

It’s been almost 12 years since the tragic incident happened, which came as a shock to all considering how young he was at the time.

Terri Irwin has opened up about Steve Irwin’s death in an interview. An Australian television series called “Anh’s Brush With Fame” recently had an interview with Terri where she made this emotional announcement.

The 53-year-old widow was on the show to promote her advocacy as an anti-culling campaigner, but the conversation quickly turned to her late husband.. she spoke out to his fans about how her quirky husband Steve wouldn’t have been surprised at all.

“He never thought he’d have a long life. He always kind of had this sense his life would be cut short”.

Unfortunately, Steve was right, when a stingray approached him and pierced him in the chest with its barb in between takes while filming “Ocean’s Deadliest” in Queensland, Australia. Following the incident, Terri was notified to call her zoo manager. Recalling the moment when she found out Terri states,

“I just remember this incredible sense of responsibility, this feeling of overwhelming grief but ‘what do I do next? I kind of collected my thoughts and then had to go out to the car and tell Bindi and Robert … which was really hard.”

With tears welling up in her eyes Terri recalled the last moment she saw her husband who remained back to film the documentary as she and the children flew to Tasmania.

“I remember him at the airstrip waving goodbye. That was the last time we saw him.”

‘Every day it’s difficult, and after 11 years the grief goes from being a rock in your heart to walking beside you,’ she said. She continued: ‘It’s always there, and I never really know when it’s going to hit me.’

Terri has revealed that she still struggles with Steve Irwin’s death

She added that she misses Steve ‘constantly,’ but said that she still felt lucky to have her her ‘happily ever after’ with the wildlife warrior.

Steve, 44, died on September 4, 2006 while filming on the Great Barrier Reef near Port Douglas when a stingray struck him with a barb to the heart.

Terri admits that Steve himself would have been shocked by the amount of support people displayed the moment news of his passing spread. “No one would’ve been more surprised than Steve at the outpouring of grief and love.”

Sadly he left behind his wife and two young children, who to this day are big wildlife enthusiasts just like their father. Despite the fame that Steve had over the years Terri says she always admired the fact that the fame never got to his head stating,

“Famous wasn’t a word that occurred to Steve. I loved that about him, he was never pretentious, never big-noted himself, and we did put everything we made for wildlife and still go back into conservation, I’m really proud of that.”

I think it’s safe to say that’s part of the reason why the world loved him so much and continues to remember his name. Thankfully, his loving children and wife continue to build on his incredible legacy.

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