"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
Apparently, these sting rays are quite large and have a barb that is
fairly spectacular in both length and ability to penetrate. According
to the news, he swam up behind it and it whacked him.

One in a hundred shot.

I think it fair to say that while this type of death is rare, that Steve
Irwin had a better chance of being killed by an animal in the long haul than
your average person. I found his on air personae annoying, but it kept the
kids attention better I guess. I know at his zoo, he was a saftey nazi
regarding animal handling procedures etc, and for all the false bravado, he
did use caution in his own dealings with the critters.
Real sad day for Austrailia and his wife and kids.... not to mention that he
was a "world figure" of sorts.

-W