I think that is the third record of a person that died due to stingray attacks in Australia. The first is a soldier that dived off a pier in St Kilda, Melbourne in 1945 (struck in the chest with the barb). The other was a 9 year old boy, again the barb entered his heart and he died later. The rumor here is that Steve pulled the barb out before he died. Considering that it is barbed like a fishing arrow, it would have added to his trauma but he probably had no chance regardless.
Stingrays are not aggressive, so it is very unusual for people to be struck by them. Being a surfer and seeing the bull rays under you is amazing, you cannot imagine how big they can get. But I have never felt threatened by them.
Knowing the Australian animals he often played with, I reckon he was slightly mad (No-one plays with King Browns, one of the most angry and poisonous snakes in the world like he did). But what he has done for Australian conservation far outweighs the silly things he did. Ironically, I think he was more popular overseas then here.
Good to see people from OS using "Crikey!". He spoke like a true country Aussie.
Hopefully people will do good things for conservation in his name. That is probably what he would have liked. He lived more life in his 44 years then most people do if they lived twice as long. Still, he did not deserve to die. My thoughts go to his family.
