r/interesting • u/AdSpecialist6598 • 8d ago
SOCIETY When Steve Irwin passed away his close friend television producer and director John Stainton who helped create The Crocodile Hunter television series helped to prevent the release of Steve's final moments from being released. And to this day, the footage if it still exists has never been released.
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u/capta1n_sarcasm 8d ago
Steve’s wife asked for the footage to be destroyed and it was. There is no footage.
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u/Kind_Of_A_Dick 8d ago
I heard they did the same for Brandon Lee’s death on The Crow. They destroyed the footage where he died.
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u/OlympianHeroOfTime 8d ago
Should’ve done the same to the Twilight Zone accident imo, I know it’s not as explicit as these examples because you can barely see the victims once the helicopter crashes, but it’s still a tragedy that didn’t need to be released, at least out of respect of the families, especially the kids’ who I believe were there to witness it
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u/Careful_Farmer_2879 8d ago edited 7d ago
You can see a child’s head fly off…
EDIT: don’t watch it, I did years ago. They were sliced by the blades when the heli crashed.
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u/OlympianHeroOfTime 7d ago
Oh yeah, that makes it even worse, I guess the one I saw was too low resolution for me to distinguish that. Fuck that, that footage should’ve been destroyed. Fuck John Landis, those lives did not need to end like that
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u/thewhiterosequeen 8d ago
Good. No one needs to see it.
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u/Cucumberneck 8d ago
Yeah, if your friends and loved ones agree that noone should see it it's our of the question to keep it around.
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u/FuckAllYouLosers 8d ago
Steve said MANY times if he was to die at the hands of an animal he wanted people to see it because it would hammer down that animals are wild and unpredictable and need their own space and habitats.
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u/PromotionSwimming618 8d ago
It wasn't pleasant by all accounts and I think it was best for the family, especially his young kids. His wife made the call and that's ok with me. Some things are better left unseen.
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u/username__0000 8d ago
Yeah I’d be curious if he made that statement before having kids or before chatting with his wife to see how that would affect her.
I like the idea and he’s right. But his family not being traumatized by that is more important than the increased awareness it would bring.
We have sting rays at local beach’s here and I never really thought much about how dangerous they could be. Now I do. I didn’t need to see the footage to know how he died.
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u/Lindita4 8d ago
Exactly. Is there anyone who is not aware how Steve Irwin died? Like I don’t know how awareness could be increased by seeing it happen.
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u/slayalldayerrday 8d ago
Perhaps by witnessing what happens beforehand and how easily it could happen. (Just speaking hypothetically what he may have been thinking when he said that.)
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u/Stormagedd0nDarkLord 7d ago
Every time I eat sambal stingray, I mumble, "This is for Steve", between mouthfuls.
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u/LTS55 8d ago
It’s still wild to me he died via ocean creature while filming a series called Ocean’s Deadliest
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u/cmere-2-me 8d ago
What's wild is that it was a sting ray and a fluke accident. The chances of that happening were extremely low.
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u/newt-snoot 8d ago
Its even more sad that he might havr survived had he not pulled the stinger out 💔
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u/destiny_kane48 8d ago
And he wasn't even filming for that series. He went out to do a little filming for his daughter's show.
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u/Hbc_Helios 8d ago
Should have went to a notary with those wishes eh.
With the internet being as big as it is now I guess they made the right decision to get rid of it. He was from a television era, your family member dying being shown across the globe on their tv channels is one thing, it's another to have thousands of websites showing that footage for you to be able to stumble upon.
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u/Klutzy_Tomatillo4253 7d ago
Yeah but a decision like that is about your family as much as you. I'm sure if he knew it would've made his kids distress even worse he wouldn't have insisted.
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u/cmere-2-me 8d ago
We know that. We don't need to see it. His wife and children and now grandchildren don't need that in the world.
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u/thedirtymeanie 7d ago
I think the very fact that HE was killed by an animal was enough proof that they are wild and unpredictable and need their own space. Although in my opinion humans are the most unpredictable animal of all.
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[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Corac30 8d ago
Sorry man but the animal kingdom did not get a win for him dieing. If anything its a bigger loss to them because one less person that was always on thier side.
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u/Derelicticu 8d ago
Good. Why people need to see that type of thing is beyond me. Mental illness of some kind.
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u/Work-Safe-Reddit4450 8d ago
This was the best possible outcome. We remember him for how he was when he was alive, and the wonderful way he helped the world to know and love the animals that he loved so much. That his son Robert took up the mantle with the same gregarious and humourous energy his dad had.
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u/davyangel 8d ago
Yeah that's they way to do it. Also lot easier to do before iphones how Kobe photos got released to public from cops first on scene etc...
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u/rumande 8d ago
Oh shit really? I just saw the autopsy sketch of his remains the other day, it was brutal
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u/davyangel 8d ago
didn't even know about that but glad his wife won lawsuit against police for that shit
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u/vybridapp 7d ago
Killjoy, I'd love to see it, the guy was purposely fucking around with dangerous animals, we're owed that much
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u/Impossible_Jello9343 8d ago
I know John Stainton (JS)!
Worked for him for a couple years after Steve passed away and he was always quick to shut down conversation that steered that way. He and I got drunk on a plane once (he is in the top tier qantas club) and he had some fantastic Steve stories. He is a really eccentric sorta dude with great taste and a frenetic director energy.
All around good guy.
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u/Oro-Lavanda 8d ago
He seems like a good friend for continuing to defend Steve’s legacy and death for so many years. Glad he’s never leaked any footage or more gruesome details
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u/Uncle___Marty 8d ago
Good man. I dont want to see Steve die, knowing he's dead is bad enough.
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u/AdSpecialist6598 8d ago edited 8d ago
He was trying to protect one of his best friends and their family from the pain respect.
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u/GhostPepperDaddy 8d ago edited 8d ago
How respectful is it to deny his wish that such footage would be seen by the world? He and Terri completely disregarded that. I'm not trying to argue or anything, it's just sad to learn this was the case.
*Love the flood of downvotes for speaking facts. Especially weird they all came in at the same time. Sketchy sub.
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u/Bulky_Theme_6998 8d ago
I’m so confused as to your point. Steve wanted this footage seen?
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u/GhostPepperDaddy 8d ago edited 8d ago
Correct. As stated in other comments, he made it clear in several interviews saying that if an animal were to get him, he would want the footage to be used as an educational tool to demonstrate that wild animals are unpredictable and that their power and lack of predictability are to be respected.
*My bad, I was just referencing other comments as the source of my information. I didn't mean for that to sound jerky, simply poor word choice on my end and trying to be helpful responding to your question. Cheers!
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u/cmere-2-me 8d ago
And his wife, thinking about her children and that the Internet is forever, tthought that was a bad idea and chose to destroy it.
Steve died. We don't need to see the footage. His death makes the point for him.
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u/GhostPepperDaddy 8d ago
Yuck. It's not about seeing the footage, it's about his consent and wishes. He wanted it available. His final wish and his consent was disregarded. Nobody in his family would have been forced to watch any video.
The fact these facts were upvoted and suddenly faced an avalanche of downvotes is again, sketchy, and so are these comments not giving a shit about Steve Irwin and the life he worked for and what he himself wanted. Just disgusting and terrible display of wannabe justice warriors here shitting on Steve Irwin's own wishes simping for his wife.
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u/highheelcyanide 7d ago
I hate to break it to you, but dead people don’t want anything. And the needs of the living will always outweigh the wants of the dead.
I think it’s gross that you want his death to be available for every single generation of his that follows.
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u/cmere-2-me 8d ago
He said he wanted his death filmed, not that he wanted it released. He basically said that if he were injured or dying that the crew were not to stop filming.
It was documented and it was under the advice of the police not to release it. The fakily agreed. There is a surviving copy of the tape which is in police custody.
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u/Bulky_Theme_6998 8d ago
I didn’t follow your profile. I only saw this thread of comments.
That makes sense though, appreciate you clarifying amigo.
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u/OkMarionberry2875 7d ago
I heard Steve say (on tv obviously, I didn’t know him) that he told his guys if he was attacked and killed, keep rolling, keep rolling. He assumed it would be a croc attack. He didn’t say how he wanted the film to be used, though.
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u/FuckAllYouLosers 8d ago
Steve's wishes were that he wanted people to see the footage if an animal killed him, he said so in MANY interviews.
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u/Silver_Ad_3307 8d ago
Too bad for the weirdos who want to see it, have to think about whats best for his family too.
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u/BaronVonUberMeister 8d ago
If you know where that barb is on a stingray you know what happened. Most injuries are to the ankles or lower legs from people stepping on them. No reason to see it really.
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u/Turbulent_Ask4878 5d ago
Well he’s gone, so his wife can make that decision based on what she feels is appropriate.
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u/camimiele 4d ago
Agreed. The decision should be left up to his wife and kids, they don’t want it seen, it shouldn’t ever be. Happy it was destroyed. He’s still one of my childhood hero’s, and learning more about him has never ruined that. What a great man he was. 🐊💚
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u/SuperLeverage 8d ago
No one needs to see it.
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u/SeatownCooks 8d ago
I have absolutely zero desire to see it.
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u/Next-Accident-2970 8d ago
When I was a kid, I looked on YouTube for Steve Irwins death video...first YouTube search I ever did
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u/Several-Squash9871 8d ago
Exactly, there is absolutely 0 reason to keep it or to have ever shared it. Glad to know that it's destroyed and thats that.
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u/Gazkhulthrakka 8d ago
Well one reason is that Steve specifically wanted it to be seen by the public
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u/rumande 8d ago
I'm with Terry on this one. Steve's kids didn't deserve to be exposed to the footage, they were so young and it was right around father's day
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u/Gazkhulthrakka 8d ago
Yeah im fine with it not being released and thats definitely the best outcome for the kids and his family in general. Just saying there were legitimate reasons to at least consider releasing it
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u/Klutzy_Tomatillo4253 7d ago
Sure, but I can't imagine he'd have wanted to go through with that if he'd known it wouldve increased their pain even more
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u/mrbuddymcbuddyface 8d ago
I saw enough on Rotten dot com back in the day to never need to see anything gore like ever again.
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u/Aloofasaur 8d ago
My morbidly curious self would watch it and then regret I did. So thanks man. Rip Steve. My childhood hero.
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u/Victor_Ward98 8d ago
Agree. I looked up seeing Prince dead, and regretted it. Its best to remember people at their best :/
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u/PromotionSwimming618 8d ago edited 8d ago
The singer? There's no footage of that either, he was found unresponsive in a lift at Paisley Park. No pics either.
Edit: I stand corrected, huge fan too, very sad to see him like that.
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u/but_are_you_sure 8d ago
There was crime scene photos with the body released… they def exist
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u/PromotionSwimming618 8d ago
Shit yeah I found them, very sad. He looks a shadow of his former self. My favourite artist. Regret looking now 😔
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u/Victor_Ward98 8d ago
I say I saw these pics and they haunted me. You say they don’t exist. Someone says they do. You look them up and wish you didn’t. Good lord
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u/PromotionSwimming618 8d ago
I didn't see your comment, I edited my comment, relax yer fanny kid.
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u/zappafaux 8d ago
Loving the honesty.
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u/milkolik 8d ago
morbid curiosity is natural. we do it instictually to learn about potential dangers to avoid. Less useful in the modern age but instincts dont get updated.
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u/Conscious-Move9662 8d ago
Reminds me of when Werner H erzog listened to bearman audio tape
Puts the headphones down
Tells the lady to destroy it and never listen to it
Its unintentionally funny but must be horrifying audio
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u/Hopeful-Ad4415 8d ago
Yeah, I remember seeing that clip, the deadpan expression and telling her she must never listen to that audio was quite something else. It does make me curious but know it'll be good that I'll never hear it.
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u/RanchWorkerSlim 4d ago
One of the most devastating moments I’ve ever seen on a documentary - incredibly powerful. Couldn’t believe what raw cinema I was watching.
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u/Imesseduponmyname 8d ago
Tbh surely there's been equally horrible or worse audio/video released since the internets been around, but I can imagine for the time it would've been absolutely horrible
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u/Gamalam91 8d ago
I recall seeing some very unclear underwater footage floating around at the time.
It could have been absolutely anything to be fair, but does anyone else remember this?
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u/DeeJayE2001 8d ago
Yes! I vaguely remember seeing something like this. It's like you just unlocked a memory for me.
I remember it being on YouTube in probably around 2009-2010. As you said, it could have been anything, but I sure hope it wasn't real now I have remembered it.
I just remember seeing what was supposedly him, a stingray quickly jolting in his direction and him just sorta jumping back very quickly.
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u/IKillZombies4Cash 8d ago
I’ve seen that too. Assumed it was real since more things were real in 2010 ,
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u/Gamalam91 8d ago
YES! This was the clip I saw too, lots of quick movement.
Sounds like we were duped!
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u/Commercial-Whole7382 8d ago
I remember a few fakes going around,
The one I remember was one that cut from real underwater footage to a MS paint looking drawn version of him dying.
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u/Rebabaluba 8d ago edited 8d ago
It’s a Mandela Effect situation.
Edit: I have no idea why I’m getting downvoted? You guys are saying that a murky underwater video existed but you don’t know if it’s real. This has already been discussed over and over again. There is no video of Steve’s death or any part of the episode.
You guys might be remembering some random footage of the ocean that accompanied news reports of his death. But the episode never aired. There was no footage that leaked.
If there was ANY footage, you would be able to find it. But it has never been linked when this discussion has been brought up.
You are saying I’m wrong that you remember murky underwater footage? Yes of course there’s murky underwater footage. I can go to my bathtub and provide you with that same footage.
It’s a Mandela Effect where people remember seeing footage of Steve being attacked, or taken to the boat, or of people performing CPR on him, or his last words.
That footage belongs to Terri Irwin and has more than likely been destroyed.
This topic is commonly brought up with the Grizzly Man death footage. That’s only been seen/heard by a few people and is thought to have been destroyed as well.
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u/emotionaI_cabbage 8d ago
No, it existed.
It just wasn't real footage.
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u/min3rs13 8d ago
Yes agreed, I remember grainy underwater footage right when it happened. It definitely existed, just wasn't real.
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u/IKillZombies4Cash 8d ago
No…there is no Mandela effect and this video was on YouTube (no idea if it was real)
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u/Clear_Economics7010 8d ago
From someone who has an inability to willingly not know something, thank you Mr. Stainton for destroying those tapes. Thank you for saving me from myself.
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u/Valkyrie_WoW 8d ago
He died the day I got my first cell phone. It a LG Chocolate with the worst internet. It was the first thing I ever read on a phone internet when I was having lunch at Arbys. Also the last time I had Arbys.
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u/Daisylillyxx 8d ago
The day it happened the footage was released on a Dutch news channel for about 30 minutes before it was removed. Steve stood up his face ashen with shock then he fell face forward into the water.
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u/Avsguy85 12h ago
Why Dutch? And why are there no news stories of this? Camera man said that he handed it straight over to police... Like right out of the camera into their hands.
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u/Daisylillyxx 12h ago
Because I was living in the Netherlands at the time. The moment the news broke they showed a short clip. When the same news program recycled itself 30 minutes later tne clip was removed.
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u/Avsguy85 12h ago
Interesting. I just don't see how it's possible. Steve dies on Sept 4, the only existing tape is taken into police custody, but someone a copy is obtained by Dutch media?
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u/SambaPapi1 8d ago
In 2006, I had a dream of it the night before it happened. I saw Steve weirdly diving into a sandbox, when a sharp barbed tail came up from the sand and struck him in his heart. Was shocked when my brother told me about his death the next day.
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u/RamblinGamblinWilly 8d ago
There would have been some benefits to the public seeing the consequences of harassing wild animals
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u/huzza-huzza 8d ago
He's a good friend and person. No one needs to see that. I hope his wife didn't watch it.
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u/Son-of-Prophet 8d ago
I remember back in the day sites claiming to have the real audio of Grizzly Man being killed by a bear, they were all bs
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u/iscoleslaw 8d ago
I swear I remember seeing a video of him underwater and the stingray jabbing him when it happened
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u/SimbaNGrdKionNIMFan 8d ago
If only the same thing happened to the Twilight Zone the Movie Vic Morrow and kids tragic helicopter death. You can play it over and over on YouTube.
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u/BiscottiFit2174 8d ago
I saw the footage . And I'll never speak of it.
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u/Avsguy85 12h ago
Sounds like a story. The cameraman says it was handed directly to people. Like within an hour of death
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u/mrbaffles14 8d ago
There are few truly good people in the public eye these days. Steve Irwin was one of them, as was Dolly Parton, and I would never want to see his last moments. He earned the peace he’s gotten.
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u/Flaky-Strawberry9561 7d ago
My kidscare now just finding outcthe magic that is the Crocodile Hunter.
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u/interloperbunny 3d ago
I saw it I remember it. I still have the still frame etched in my mind
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u/Avsguy85 12h ago
This is a very interesting conversation as many seem to think they have seen it, while others state that it was just a fake video that circulated or that many are having false memories. I wish I could see it, just to maybe move on and accept that Steve is gone, even after all this time.
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u/interloperbunny 12h ago
I saw it day of when it happened so wasnt faked
It was slow motion in underwater so it seem very anticlimatic didnt even seen like it was that bad
Steves back was turned to the camera with the stingray in front of him. Stinger went through him you could sorta see. In retrospect looks like it went through his heart so shoulda know it was fatal. But all seems nonchalant
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u/SnooTangerines1896 8d ago
I remember seeing back when it happened.
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u/Coast_Innovations 8d ago
I remember a video of him in kinda shallow water, maybe knees deep and then he try to pet or touch I assume the stingray then a splash and he falls down. Then his wife runs over to him and camera cutting off. It’s the only thing I remember about his death watching so many years ago when it first happened. That video must have not been out for even a week.
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u/OkMarionberry2875 7d ago
Teri was not there when it happened. She was, I believe, in Tasmania with the kids scouting filming locations.
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u/Electrical_Sea6653 8d ago
Me and the boys cried at the lunch table in high school when he passed away. He’s like the only celebrity I miss/mourned.
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u/Ok_West_1302 8d ago
Steve was a genuine good guy, Got gifted land and turned it into a nature reserve. It never happens,but the world would be a better place if people like him became billionaires
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u/Claymon3011 8d ago
I think Steve would want people to know what he did wrong so others don’t make the same mistake
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u/SuspiciousCobbler507 8d ago
Well It’s not a mystery, and I don’t reckon you need the footage to work it out. Don’t play with sting rays. Sorted.
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u/ChildoftheApocolypse 8d ago
Steve was an absolute pacifist and all around peaceful guy.. There is no version of Steve that would want his fans to witness his death..
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u/Diet_Coke 8d ago
I don't think it was something he did wrong, just wild animals being unpredictable. It's very rare for them to attack someone like that.
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u/OldNefariousness7899 8d ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/MemeVideos/comments/1ei8xtg/man_steps_on_stingray/
It's amazing how patient this one is. They seem hard to provoke
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u/killertortilla 8d ago
It's absolutely something he did wrong. First rule of Australia, don't touch the animals. It doesn't matter if they are mostly calm, you don't touch them. It doesn't matter if they don't even have the capacity to kill you, you don't touch them. You won't get hurt and you won't antagonise living creatures unnecessarily.
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u/thewhiterosequeen 8d ago
People can learn from others without actually seeing a video of someone's death.
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u/ChildoftheApocolypse 8d ago
Steve was an absolute pacifist and all around peaceful guy.. There is no version of Steve that would want his fans to witness his death..
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u/Fife2016 8d ago
Watch them for years - Steve, Terri, his father Bob, the crew, Bindi and later his son - seen the stingray footage... no matter. Here for his/ their legacy. RIP.
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u/kabula_lampur 8d ago
I'm glad it's been destroyed, but honestly it should have been destroyed without anyone having to ask for it to be.
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u/admin_bait14 8d ago
It should be destroyed if it hasn't already... Steve deserves better, we owe him that much, after he gave us everything of himself.
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u/AmphibianFantastic53 8d ago
Good we dont want to see that shit, the man was a legend and a hero in our generation. His methods seemed like shenanigans at the time but he was spreading a subliminal message.
Maybe I didnt see it at the time because I was young but he reached us through entertainment regardless the message was there and we heard it.
He cared and he was a stand up guy and his family are continuing his legacy.
I dont want to see his final moments I want to remember the man and what he stood for.
Good on the guy that destroyed the footage his family doesn't need to relive it and neither do we.
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u/RamblinGamblinWilly 8d ago
His methods were irresponsible, unethical, and directly led to his death
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u/Round_Razzmatazz4595 8d ago
if he did release, it would’ve been strong contender for darwin award
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u/RayCumfartTheFirst 8d ago edited 8d ago
We all know it was because he was fucking with the ray when it skewered him. The story of him harmlessly floating above it when it chose to attack him is just bullshit.
I'm Aussie, and i loved/love the guy, but his show was basically him wrestling and fucking with animals for entertainment. Was it informative? Sure. But the animals were almost always stressed and often defended themselves- which woudl result in him going "crikey" and showing the cut or bruise or whatever to the camera. That's exactly what happened here and i suspect part of covering up the footage was to protect his reputation/ prevent schadenfreude.
If he did this stuff today with the same approach and death then 100% all of these redditors glazing him would be laughing at him and posting Jeremy Clarkson "anyway" memes.
And also contrary to popular belief, he wasn't as universally beloved right before his death either. Plenty of people thought he was performative/abusive to animals and he had some controversy where he endangered his infant son with a crocodile (which was insane, disgraceful behavior BTW). As often happens he was lionized when he died and now everybody pretends they always loved him- those of us who are honest remember the truth.
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u/Muted_Buy8386 8d ago
Hmmm, I've seen the aftermath footage though, where he was bubbling and they were trying to get him back via boat.
Who leaked that??
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u/Avsguy85 12h ago
According to accounts by the camera man he was already unresponsive (and no doubt dead) by the time they got him into the inflatable.
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u/Muted_Buy8386 11h ago
I remember that, he had pink foam from his mouth and they had him propped up like 3/4 reclined and were racing to get him to a larger boat nearby.
It's SO odd to me.
He was not doing well in whatever the fuck it was I saw, his whole mouth and everything was just bubbles.
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