Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin said the words “I’m dying” in his final moments, his cameraman has said.
TV star Steve died in 2006 after being stabbed by a stingray’s barb while he was out filming off the coast of Port Douglas, Queensland.
Cameraman Justin Lyons was with him and has opened up about that day, telling Daily Mail Australia it was “a beautiful morning” and that the pair had been having a “great time”.
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They ended up discovering a large stingray and decided to get some footage with it.
(Image: Getty Images)
Filming went smoothly until the duo went for a final shot showing Steve swimming up behind the creature.
Justin said: “Instead of swimming off, [the ray] propped himself on the front of its wings and pushed his rear end up and started madly stabbing with his tail towards Steve. The water boiled with bubbles, thrashing and whatnot.”
When the stingray swam off, Justin panned back and realised that there was blood in the water.
(Image: Studio 10)
He and other members of the team, including wildlife expert Brian Coulter, got Steve back in their boat where they attempted to cover the wound in his chest.
Justin said: “Steve is tensing up writhing in pain. Brian keeps saying, ‘Think of your kids, you’ll be right’.
“Steve looks directly at me and says, ‘I’m dying.’ I told him, ‘No you’re not, you’ll be right just hang in there’.”
(Image: REX)
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The team also tried CPR as they made their way back to the beach.
But when paramedics arrived they said that the star, who was 44, had passed away.
Steve had two children with his wife Terri – Bindi and Robert – and they have followed in his footsteps when it comes to conservation and wildlife.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
