Croc Hunter's Death Caught on Tape

I hope authorities are able to keep this tape out of public view, but I fear that somehow it will eventually show up on the internet:

Fatally injured by a stingray, Australian "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin pulled its serrated barb out of his chest before losing consciousness and dying, the world-famous naturalist's manager said on Tuesday.

Video footage of the attack shows Irwin swimming above the stingray on the Great Barrier Reef on Monday when it lashed out and speared him in the heart with its barbed tail, manager John Stainton told reporters.

"It shows that Steve came over the top of the ray and the tail came up, and spiked him here (in the chest)," Stainton said after watching the footage.

"He pulled it out and the next minute he's gone. The cameraman had to shut down," he said.

"It's a very hard thing to watch because you're actually witnessing somebody die ... it's terrible."

The children of the world who were fans of Irwin don't need to see that.

Meanwhile, we're being treated to "are dangerous stingrays in our waters" type of stories, as though this kind of thing happens every day. People on Southern California beaches get stung by these things quite frequently, but I don't think there's ever been an attack that resulted in more than just a painful puncture wound. The critters are often found in the shallow waters right along the coast, and right where the beachgoers hang out. People usually get stung when they step on them (stingrays don't like that).

I just hope the stingray doesn't become the "new shark" with constant reports everytime some bather gets a boo-boo.

UPDATE: The Crocodile Hunter's death may be broadcast after all:

LATEST: The footage of late Australian naturalist STEVE IRWIN being killed by a stingray could be shown on TV. Charismatic Irwin, dubbed the Crocodile Hunter after his internationally acclaimed TV show, died yesterday (04SEP06) while diving on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Irwin was filming for a new documentary when he lost his life, and his cameraman shot the moment when the stingray's barbed tail stabbed the legendary conservationist through the heart. The tapes are currently being held by Queensland police - but Irwin's family are determined to respect his last wishes and allow the harrowing footage to be broadcast. Irwin once insisted, "My number one rule is to keep that camera rolling. Even if it's shaky or slightly out of focus, I don't give a rip. "Even if a big old alligator is chewing me up I want to go down and go, 'Crikey!' just before I die. That would be the ultimate for me." An insider tells British newspaper the Daily Star, "This is exactly what Steve would have wanted. He knew the dangers and was totally up for the cameras to get everything."

Crikey!