I Saw It In The News

Crocodile hunter's fatal dive

Hayden Andrews — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 03:43:00 +0000

By Luke McIlveen

Northern Territory News

Australia

05 September 2006

Thanks to: Yvette Andrews

STEVE Irwin -- the exuberant Crocodile Hunter and passionate conservationist -- died after a freak stingray attack while he was diving off Port Douglas yesterday.

The international star was killed when a stingray barb pierced his heart as he filmed a new documentary called Ocean's Deadliest on shallow reefs in north Queensland.

Tragically, his beloved wife and co-star Terri was hiking in Tasmania's wilderness and could not be told the devastating news until late yesterday. The couple have two young children, daughter Bindi Sue, 8, and son Bob, 2.

Friend and film producer John Stainton said Irwin had been swimming over the top of a giant bull ray in just 2m of water when it lashed out, driving a barb into his heart.

The star's film crew hauled Irwin on to his boat, Croc One, and made a futile attempt to revive him just after 11am yesterday.

A witness said the stingray had slashed through the 44-year-old's ribs and left a gaping hand-size wound near his heart.

Paramedics from Queensland Helicopter Rescue tried to revive him on the shores of the Low Isles, 15km northeast of Cairns, but he is believed to have died from a heart attack caused by severe blood loss.

"It became clear fairly soon he had non-survivable injuries," said Dr Ed O'Loughlin, who was aboard the rescue helicopter.

In a Father's Day tribute published in the September issue of marie claire magazine, Irwin's daughter Bindi had paid tribute to her dad.

"I love that he's funny, he's entertaining and he's always there when I need him most," she said.

Speaking of his daughter, Irwin said she had inherited his love of animals.

He recalled catching crocodiles on the Cape York Peninsula when Bindi "finds me hanging off this crocodile and says, 'excuse me, Daddy, when you're finished here could you please come back to camp and play with Barbie"?

"When I'd finished with the croc, I went back to camp and played with Barbie dolls."

A public outpouring of grief followed news of his death.

"I really do feel Australia has lost a wonderful and colourful son," Prime Minister John Howard said.

The news of Irwin's death blazed around the world, especially in the US, where he had found fame and fortune.

Melbourne-born Irwin -- known worldwide as the Crocodile Hunter -- was famous for his enthusiasm and catchcry "Crikey!".

His Crocodile Hunter program was first broadcast in 1992 and has been shown around the world on cable network Discovery.

Man runs over wife on toilet

Hayden Andrews — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 07:07:00 +0000

By Kasey Brunt

Northern Territory News

Australia

(View Original Story)

02 September 2006

Thanks to: Yvette Andrews

A FORGIVING wife told yesterday how her husband accidentally ran her over while she was "answering the call of nature" in the Territory Outback.

Pat MacDonald told the Northern Territory News: "We had just pulled up for morning tea."

"I squatted down in front of the car for a call of nature and he drove right over the top of me."

Mrs MacDonald, a 63-year-old retired nurse, was enjoying a camping trip at Gregory National Park with her husband Peter, 67.

While she can laugh now, Mrs Anderson suffered extensive head injuries, including having the right side of her scalp torn off. The couple used a satellite phone to alert medical staff based at Timber Creek, about 50km away.

Mrs Anderson was treated at Timber Creek Medical Centre before being flown to Royal Darwin Hospital, where she had emergency surgery.

After a six-day stay in hospital following the August 4 accident, and time spent recuperating at a friend's home in Gunn, Palmerston, Mrs Anderson said she learned a valuable lesson about Outback dunny etiquette.

"I now know not to get out of a car and squat right in front of it," she added with a bit of a chuckle.

Mrs Anderson also thanked the Territory's medical and emergency services.

"I just want to say thank you to all the people who helped us," she said.

"You have to give credit where credit is due and this is one of those times," Mrs Anderson said.

The Queensland couple will remain in Darwin until Mrs Anderson is well enough to travel home.

"I have surgery again next week and then I'll go home to recuperate," she said.

Drunk driver shakes snake at cops

Hayden Andrews — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 10:47:00 +0000

By Rebekah Cavanagh

Northern Territory News

Australia

(View Original Story)

14 November 2006

Thanks to: Yvette Andrews

A DRUNK driver threatened two Territory police officers with a live snake after he was pulled over in Darwin at the weekend.

The driver allegedly picked up the wild snake, believed to be either a deadly western brown or a harmless water python, as it slid across the road during a random roadside breath test.

He pointed the reptile's head at the officers and threatened them, before escaping into nearby bushes, still holding the snake.

"I felt personally threatened by it," said Constable Dale Howe, who was one of the officers involved.

"It was at least a metre long and I'm not very good with snakes -- I don't like them."

"For someone to just go over and pick up a snake off the road is an unusual thing to do."

"I'm not sure what type of snake it was or if it was poisonous, but it was yellowy brown and, to me, a snake is a snake. They are all bad."

Constable Howe was with his colleague Constable Wolfgang Langeneck when they pulled over a Toyota Landcruiser, carrying five passengers, about midnight on Saturday after it was seen to be swerving along Amy Johnson Avenue.

The 17-year-old male driver was asked to step out of the car after he blew .131.

As he was being questioned about the reading, he ran on to the road and picked up the snake.

Despite endless requests by police to drop the reptile, the man failed to do so.

One of the officers used capsicum spray to disarm him, but he fled the scene into nearby bushes.

Darwin-based snake catcher Chris Peberdy said given the description of the snake and the area it was found, it was a western brown or a water python.

"Both of those are commonly found in the Berrimah area," he said.

"I can see why the officers felt threatened."

"A snake is as much a threat as a gun as you don't know whether it is loaded or not, as in containing the deadly venom."

Constable Howe, 30, said it is a story you would only hear of in the Territory.

"It would be up there as one of the most bizarre things I have experienced in my three years in the force," he said.

The alleged offender has been identified and will be summonsed on charges of exceeding .08 and driving an unregistered vehicle. He will appear in Darwin Magistrates Court at a later date.