The beloved Steve Irwin died 20 years ago. His family has continued to honor his legacy ever since, with his memory never fading. He died in a horrific accident involving a stingray. Now, the cameraman who was with him has revealed Steve’s heartbreaking last words.
20 years ago, on September 4, 2006, Steve Irwin, the beloved wildlife conservationist known as the “Crocodile Hunter,” died. He was just 44 years old.
The beloved wildlife expert died after a stingray fatally injured him while filming an underwater documentary near the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Steve Irwin left his wife, Terri, and his two young children, Bindi and Robert Irwin, behind. However, the Irwin family has continued to honor his legacy, and all three are actually working and operating Australia Zoo.
On the 20th anniversary of his death, the Irwin family honored Steve Irwin. His son, Robert, shared both a video of the two together as well as a picture.
“Thank you, Dad, for showing me and the entire world what it is to truly live. To lead with empathy, to treat every living being how you’d wish to be treated, and to be passionate in everything you do. Your mission and light lives on always,” Robert wrote.
Steve Irwin – 20 years since his tragic passing
His daughter, Bindi, also shared a picture of her and her father.
“20 years ago, today, the world lost the most passionate and dedicated wildlife conservationist. Our family lost our superhero. My mum lost the love of her life; my brother and I lost the greatest dad. Grief never truly leaves us; we walk alongside it every day. Where there is enormous grief, there is even greater love. In the last 20 years, I have watched the world mourn my dad with our family. I always thought that my dad’s legacy is wildlife conservation; it turns out, his legacy is love,” Bindi wrote.
“For our planet and for each other. I have a 5-year-old daughter who watches his documentaries every morning. She feels utterly loved by her “grandpa crocodile” without ever having met him. My dad left a lasting impact so poignant that it will ripple out for generations to come. I believe with my whole heart that his love will live on forever. In all of us. In every kindness we show to the Earth. And that is a life and legacy worth celebrating, Dad.”
Bindi Irwin added, “I love you with my whole heart. Thank you for being our guardian angel. And most of all, thank you for watching over my daughter now, too. She loves you so much. We all do.”
How Steve Irwin died
Another person who also paid tribute was Steve Irwin’s dear friend Justin Lyons. He was also the cameraman who was with Steve on the trip when he tragically passed away.
In the new documentary Steve Irwin: A Wild Life, Lyons said they had filmed stingrays many times before, and were used to being around them.
Lyons was swimming alongside the stingray before moving into position for one final shot, filming Steve Irwin as he swam up behind it. However, what happened next would change everything.
“He swims up, swims over the top of it. It doesn’t move, but as he’s directly over the top of it, of course, it thought he was a tiger shark, and started stabbing madly towards him with its tail,” Lyons recalled.
“The water just boiled. I couldn’t see anything that was going on. Bubbles and thrashing, and then all of a sudden it stopped.”
Cameraman reveals Steve Irwin’s tragic last two words
Lyons recalled how the water calmed down. He continued filming the stingray before turning the camera back toward Steve. It was then that Steve burst out of the water, covered in blood.
“It’s punctured my lung!” Lyons recalled Steve saying.
The cameraman immediately pulled Steve into the boat. His khaki shirt was hanging open, and blood was pouring from a deep wound across his chest. Then, Steve said what would be his last words.
“He’s conscious, and he says to me, looks me right in the eye, and he says, ‘I’m dying,'” Lyons recalled.
The crew performed CPR for about 45 minutes while rushing for help. Tragically, Steve could not be saved. He was mourned by an entire world, but two decades later, his children are still carrying his memory with them.
What is your best memory of Steve Irwin? Please share yours in the comments.
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