The Crocodile Hunter is Dead! :(

[gone_fishin]

After reading the following on StingRays, I know to stay away if I ever see one:

Any of various species (family Dasyatidae) of rays noted for their slender, whiplike tail with barbed, usually venomous spines. Most species inhabit warm seas; a few live in the rivers of South America. Species range in width from 10 in. (25 cm) to 7 ft (2 m). Stingrays eat worms, mollusks, and other invertebrates. These bottom-dwellers often lie partially buried in the shallows, lashing their tail when disturbed. Large stingrays can drive their tail spines into a wooden boat. The spines cause serious, extremely painful wounds that, if abdominal, may be fatal.

R.I.P. Irwin. (sad2)

At the Adventure aquarium in Camden, NJ (just across the river from philly) they have the biggest tank I have ever seen-- it's called "ocean realm". In that tank they have several sting rays that have 8 foot wing spans with tails about 5 feet long. At the base, their tails are slightly skinnier in diameter than my thigh. Near the end of their tails, they have these "barbs" which are about the size of a rhinosorous' horn-- about 10-12 inches long and about 2-2.5 inches thick.

He was filming a documentary called "Ocean's Deadliest" for either the discovery channel or animal planet when it happened. He was swimming just above the ray when it spiked him just below the ribs (the sternum I'm guessing) and penetrated through his torso to his heart. I have a feeling it was likely the size of one of the rays described above that did it.

 

[sanblaster]

(sad2) (sad2) Sadness...

 

[RacerXGirl]

(sad2) (sad2) Sadness...

You know, he squeezed more life out of his 44 years than most of could in several lifetimes...

 

[civicexracer]

well as u guys have prolly heard and/or read, he was creating a documentary when this happened and there were cameras that recorded it...i heard on the radio the possibility of the video of him getting stung getting out, either if it leaks out or if his family agrees to show it...i honestly dont kno if i'd wana see it, im curious to see how and why this happened but also really dont want to bare seeing such a great man go..