“I have no fear of losing my life - if I have
to save a koala or a crocodile or a kangaroo or a snake, mate, I will save it.”
–Steve Irwin
His Story
Steve Irwin was born on the 22nd
of February in the year 1962 in Essendon, Victoria Australia. He grew up around
nature, catching snakes and lizards in the outback. When he would catch one, he
would put it in a plastic swimming pool full of sand in his backyard. He was
introduced to crocodiles at the age of 9, when his father took him on an outing
to catch Fresh Water Crocodiles.
At the age of nine, you would think
he’d have been nervous to jump on its back. No. He jumped on the croc. This
sparked a lifelong fascination for Steve, who then started working at his
parent’s zoo as the crocodile keeper. One day as he was giving a demonstration,
he saw a gorgeous girl in the audience, and as he puts it “Love at first
sight!” Steve and his new found sweetheart, Terri, were deeply in love. They got
married after many meetings together. Steve’s crocodile shows were amazing, so
amazing that he started his own nature show. “The Crocodile Hunter”. Steve was
always helping animals, and educated people about the beauty of nature.
Steve was a happy man, with plans
for a 40 million dollar expansion for the zoo to help the animals, when tragedy
struck. Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, was dead. Shock filled the world as
people mourned his passing. After a while, the true story came out. He had been
in the ocean, filming a documentary on stingrays. He had swam over its body to
get a better view, and then it happened. The stingray whipped its tail up and
struck him in the heart. The last thing the Crocodile Hunter ever did was pull
the hideous barb from his chest.
Hero or Not?
Steve Irwin definitely fits the
criteria of a hero. He was an inspiration to many people around the globe, and
a wonderful example. He sacrificed everything for what he loved, caring about
other people and animals more than himself. He went through many trials, from
being bitten by a crocodile, to being struck by a stingray. He was truly
dedicated to what he did.
Family Life
Steve had two children, Bindi Irwin,
his daughter, and his son Bob. Taking after her father, Bindi started up her
own children’s nature show. His family truly looked up to him. Without Steve in
their lives, they would not have found the true hero they had.
Steve Irwin was a true hero, for
people and animals alike. A true defendant of nature.
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