The Media Frenzy Behind Steve Irwin's Untimely Demise
The Unexpected Death of Steve Irwin
For those who don’t know the name, Steve Irwin, or “The Crocodile Hunter”, was a conservationist, television personality, and wildlife expert with a passion for animals and protecting the environment and its species. On September 4th, 2006 the world was in shock as news came of Irwin’s untimely death.
When it became known that Irwin was killed while snorkeling off the coast of north Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, by a stingray puncturing his heart, media frenzy followed. As more and more news sources began to report the tragic incident, questions arose as to how the animal could have caused such a terrible incident and why the normally calm species decided to act in such a way.
Experts were quick to explain that stingrays rarely attack humans, instead they use their tails for protection. It has been theorized that Irwin may have unknowingly disturbed the animal, causing the animal to lash out and strike out in defense.
Such an unexpected death of a beloved public figure brought forth an outpouring of international support and condolences. Different memorials were created and held all around the world, with some scientific research organizations such as The Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation being established.
The death of Steve Irwin sparked a massive interest in and protection of wildlife, with his gruesome death reminding us how delicate our planet's health is, and how important it is to help conserve and protect the flora and fauna that inhabit it.