THE CROCODILE HUNTER
How did Steve Irwin die and what’s happened to his family since his death?
STEVE Irwin was best known as the Crocodile Hunter and his death came as a heart-wrenching shock in 2006.
Ever since, his family have worked to make sure that his legacy lives on - here's all you need to know.
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Who was Steve Irwin?
Steve Irwin was born in February 22, 1962 in Victoria, Australia.
He was a zookeeper, conservationist and TV personality famed for his TV series The Crocodile Hunter.
He also hosted Croc Files from 1999-2001 with his wife Terri.
The couple also owned and operated Australia Zoo which was founded by Steve's parents in Beerwah, Queensland.
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When did Steve Irwin die?
Steve Irwin died on September 4, 2006, aged 44, while filming at Batt Reef in Queensland for the series Ocean's Deadliest.
He was snorkelling in shallow waters in an attempt to get footage for the conservation programme he presented with his daughter - Bindi The Jungle Girl.
While chest deep in the water he was stung by a stingray due to a defence response and died after excessive bleeding when its barb pierced his heart.
Steve's death is believed to be the only stingray fatality ever captured on camera.
The only witness of the attack was cameraman Justin Lyons who spoke to Australia's Channel Ten in 2014.
He said: "I had the camera on, I thought this is going to be a great shot, and all of sudden it propped on its front and started stabbing wildly, hundreds of strikes in a few seconds."
What's happened to his family since his death?
His family have fallen out and no longer speak to each other in a bitter feud after his death, his sister has revealed.
The close-knit clan once worked alongside the Crocodile Hunter star at the family's Australia Zoo but it all changed after he was killed by a stingray in September 2006.
Steve's father Bob abruptly left the animal sanctuary shortly two years after the telly star died, but other family members continued working together.
Older sister Joy Muscillo claims Steve's widow Terri forced them out and they are estranged.
She claims Terri and her kids, Robert and Bindi, began to distance themselves shortly after Steve's death in 2006.
Joy says she would have spoken about the rift earlier, but there was a confidentiality agreement forcing her to stay quiet.
Since it has lapsed, Joy spoke out to saying the state of her family's current relationship is "very sad".
She said: "I keep away from all that. It's just very sad... family stuff."
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What have Steve Irwin's children Bindi and Robert said about his death?
Steve Irwin's children and wife Terri continue his legacy through their conservation work at Australia Zoo.
In February 2018, Bindi, who was eight when her dad died shared emotional footage on Instagram taken before his death.
In the clip he talks about how it would be the "proudest moment" of his life to see his children take up the baton of wildlife conservation.
In her post Bindi wrote: “I promise to do my best to make you proud and ensure your legacy lives on forever.”
Speaking on This Morning in 2018 his son Robert, who was only two-years-old when Steve died said: "...having all of this footage, a whole life captured on camera, is so special.
"...for me if ever memories start to fade I can just look back in the archives and just relive the happy times we had together."
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