There are some things the public will never lay eyes on; a good example is a videotape that captured the tragic demise of Steve Irwin more than a decade ago. It happened in September 2006 at the Batt Reef near Port Douglas when Steve got barbed by a Stingray while filming a new TV show.
As soon as it happened, the camera crew tried their best to keep him alive as they moved him to shore, after which paramedics performed CPR. Unfortunately, he passed away before he reached the hospital.
Following the gruesome death, Steve’s close friend, director John Stainton had an emotional interview with CNN host Larry King during which he vowed to ensure the video never sees the light of day. Stainton was one of those the tragic incident affected greatly.
He was the one who accompanied Steve’s body on a seaplane that took them from Cairns. The journey lasted about six hours, and according to Stainton, he cried for about five hours because of how devastating the de’ ath was.
Unveiling the memorial family statue, Robert Irwin and Bindi Irwin attend “Steve Irwin Memorial Day” at Australia Zoo on November 15, 2007 on the Sunshine Coast, Australia | Source: Getty Images
Unveiling the memorial family statue, Robert Irwin and Bindi Irwin attend “Steve Irwin Memorial Day” at Australia Zoo on November 15, 2007 on the Sunshine Coast, Australia | Source: Getty Images
As if that were not enough, he also had to watch as Steve’s wife, Terri, and their kids, Bindi and Robert, laid eyes on the casket for the first time. During the public memorial held for Steve some weeks after his demise, Bindi, who was eight, shared a few words about her father. She said:
“My daddy was my hero. He was always there for me when I needed him. He listened to me and taught me so many things, but most of all, he was fun. I know that Daddy had an important job. He was working to change the world so everyone would love wildlife like he did.”
Bindi added that she did not want her father’s passion to fizzle out with his death and declared she wants to help endangered wildlife as he had. She called him the “best daddy in the whole world” and said she would miss him every day.
Other celebrities whose lives had been touched in one way or the other by the late Steve also sent in their tributes, many of which pointed out the great virtues of his character while alive.
Like Father Like Son
Robert was just a boy of two when his father passed on; however, he has a reservoir of immortalized memories to draw from, thanks to his father’s TV presence. Robert once admitted to watching old documentaries of his father every morning before school as a kid.
She revealed that her daughter now searches for pictures of the late Steve and Terri at the zoo.
According to Robert, it made him feel close to the late Steve. He has expressed gratitude for the many videos capturing his father’s essence on camera. These videos sparked memories from childhood, and he feels lucky he has them.
Most of Robert’s life has been defined by who his father was and the legacy he left behind, and he has happily stepped into his father’s shoes to continue his wildlife conservation legacy. In 2021, Robert talked about his father in a TV interview, telling the hosts:
“I miss him every minute of every day, especially on those milestone moments in my life and what would have been his birthday.”
Days like those hit the Irwin family hard; however, Robert said that it just reminded them of their goal—to ensure what Steve lived and died for never fades away.
That means caring well for the zoo he left behind, and they all do their part. During the, Robert’s mom, Terri, did her best to preserve the zoo’s integrity while protecting her kids. The zoo survived, and so did their family; according to Robert, they have only grown stronger.
View this post on Instagram
Robert has grown into a handsome man who looks just like the late Croc Hunter, and even though he only got to spend two years of his life with Steve, he has a deep love for him. On Father’s Day, he shared a video collage that captured his father spending time with him and his sister while they were kids.
In his caption, he wrote that he had been blessed with the “best dad in the world” and confessed that he was thinking about the late wildlife enthusiast, and all he could remember of him were the fun times they had together.
Robert’s ultimate goal is to make his father proud while ensuring that the message he left behind never gets forgotten. The message is to treat everyone and everything with kindness; this is why he is working towards having a bigger voice—to ensure that his message is remembered even after his passing.
He Filled in For Steve
It is usually a father’s role to give the child away by walking her down the altar, but Steve could not fulfill that role before his demise. Fortunately, Robert decided to fill in for him, and thanks to their similar looks, it felt like a younger Steve had come to attend.
Bindi had looked forward to her wedding day since she was a little girl, and at 22, she decided it was time. As she made plans, she decided that the best person to walk her down the aisle in place of her father was Robert.
He did well, but he could not stop the tears from flowing as he wished his dad had been present. Speaking about the moment, he said:
“I think for me I was incredibly emotional at the same time, not only being so proud for Bindi, it’s such a happy day, but also kind of thinking how much I wish that dad could have been there and that was his job to walk her down the aisle.”
Details of their wedding ceremony were shared on the family’s Zoo page, and towards the end of the clip, Robert was allowed to share some of his thoughts with Bindi and her husband, Chandler. He described the privilege as the “greatest honor and the most special moment of my life.”
Then he got teary-eyed as he said he was happy to welcome Chandler to the family. His sister later praised him for all his support in a social media post. The pair have always had a great bond, and she is fond of talking about how great he is on social media.
When she was expecting her first child, she expressed certainty that he would be the “best uncle.” Bindi has also made sure that her child knows who her grandparents are.
