Nurse tells of fight to save Irwin

news.com.au ^ | 23rd September 2006

[Zakeet]

It is sad, but not unexpected. The way guy dealt so dangerously close with poisonous animals he was bound to get bitten, stung, or pierced at some point!

The bet around our house was that he would be taken down by something much, much smaller that a gator, snake or spider.

Given Steve's propensity to jump into swamp water and wrangle with the filthiest of nature's carrion eaters, we were putting our money on parasites and/or microbes.

Any way you want to slice it, Mr Irwin was not what someone in the life insurance business would refer to as "insurable."

[Atchafalaya]

That is what I thought; the old rule of thumb is to not remove any penetrating object. Stabilize it and the patient and run like hell to the ER. Once he removed the barb it was moot. Had he left it in?? who knows but I thought he would have had a better chance. Thanks for the feedback.

[Atchafalaya]

The CV guy would have had to open him and use what 10# test mono to close the puncture wound. When we go hunting in the basin we always remind each other "Keep in mind, 911 is a long way away".
I just brought it up as no one was asking what was rattling around in my thoughts. Irwin was doing his thing in the wrong place, with the wrong thing, at the wrong time; akin to a lightning strike. RIP.

[Atchafalaya]

Thanks for the post; note the section stating that it is extremely dangerous to swim above or in close proximity to stingrays. He made a mistake.

[A CA Guy]

We all wish we could go back in time and make him throw a vest on.

[LisaMalia]

We all wish we could go back in time and make him throw a vest on.

Do you actually think a man who who dangle his infant son over a crocodile would wear a vest to protect himself?

This man lived life on the edge, and made those choices for his young children as well. He ultimately paid the price. If his children choose to follow in his footsteps, I hope it will be when they are of age, and can make the decisions for themselves.

[HungarianGypsy]

From many reports it has been stated that he may have not seen the stingray that got him beforehand. It was said to have been buried in sand and they were filming another stingray nearby.

[Atchafalaya]

It's moot. He was used to being in proximity to these creatures and was comfortable. A lesson, review your comfort zones in whatever you do if it includes hazards (most outdoor endeavors qualify); no matter what the source. In the woods or in Irwin's case 911 is a long way away. Ya'll take care.

[Atchafalaya]

Every article I've read and his friend in the water said he was swimming above the ray and it nailed him; no stealth.

[Atchafalaya]

Beware of your comfort zone.

[FreedomCalls]

note the section stating that it is extremely dangerous to swim above or in close proximity to stingrays.

Tell that to these people.

[A CA Guy]

I'm good, have a four pound guard dog watching my every move from below my ankles. :)

Good night.

[Rte66]

Just now seeing this thread - and I thought the exact same thing.

*End of the Trail*

[Rte66]

Good post!

[Rastus]

A bit off, but the odds were still low, low, low. There have apparently been an estimated 17 deaths worldwide from stingrays since the Civil War.

[Pharmboy]

Yep...agree completely.

[Rte66]

REMINDER:

Most of you know that there will be a TV special in the U.S. on Wednesday night featuring Terri & Bindi Irwin and John Stainton in interviews with Barbara Walters.

While the promos have been all over ABC-TV, I can't find anything definitive online to tell us the exact program times in all our time zones, other than Central and Eastern. I don't know Mountain and Pacific.

Special Edition of 20/20 With Barbara Walters
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
9:00 PM, Central
10:00 PM, Eastern
Check local listings for Mtn,Pac times


1 hour
Barbara Walters interviews Terri Irwin, widow of "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, at her home in Brisbane, Australia. Also interviewed: John Stainton, Irwin's business partner, who was with Irwin when he died, Sept. 4, 2006.

[elfman2]

Either that 17 deaths number is wrong or something's wrong with the report in post 16 above:

" In Colombia, health authorities register more than 2,000 cases of freshwater stingray incidents annually. Over a five year period in one small local hospital there were eight deaths, 23 amputations of lower limbs, and 114 other cases where victims were unable to work. "

Or maybe that small local hospital sat next to the stingray capital of the world during a 5 year rage .

[Rastus]

What I read was confusingly written, but it did say something about "ranges from 17 deaths since 1860 to 30 in more recent years." I'm sure Algore would say that the stingrays are mad at what man's doing to nature, and that's why attacks are on the rise. :)

[DJ MacWoW]

I must disagree. The stingray was undoubtedly aiming for his center of mass, and hit it.

It is a shame he misread the response of this partcular one.

It's a shame that you posted without any facts.

Stingray - life of stingray fish in the wild

Injuries to humans from stingrays occur when an unsuspecting person steps on a ray, causing the creature to reflexively strike out with its tail.

Florida Museum of Natural History

Stingrays do not attack people, however if it is stepped on, the stingray will utilize its spine as a form of defense. Although being pierced by the stingray’s spine is painful, it is rarely life threatening to humans.