I was saddened to learn of the death of Steve Irwin this afternoon. Steve Irwin is one of the people who was intrumental in peaking my interest in Australia, through his various documentaries. He will be greatly missed.

From news.com.au: "THE Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, is dead. He was killed in a freak accident in Cairns, police sources said today. It is understood he was killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest and reportedly into his heart. He was swimming off the Low Isles at Port Douglas filming an underwater documentary when the tragedy occured. The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) was called about 11am (AEST) and an emergency services helicopter was flown to the crew's boat on Batt Reef, off the coast near Cairns, with a doctor and emergency services paramedic on board. Irwin had a puncture wound to the left side of his chest and was pronounced dead at the scene."

Update from news.com.au: BINDI Irwin has taken centre-stage at Steve Irwin's memorial service, calling the Crocodile Hunter "the best daddy in the world". Thousands of fans cheered the eight-year-old's appearance at the family's Australia Zoo today as Bindi's mother Terri and brother Bob, two, looked on. "My daddy was my hero - he was always there for me when I needed him," she said, reading from a piece of paper.