Steve Irwin?s death a freak occurrence, say experts

Across the world tonight, thousands of fans of Steve Irwin, better known as the Crocodile Hunter, continue to mourn his death. Over the weekend, Irwin was struck in the heart by the barb of stingray while filming a documentary along Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. But today local divers joined conservationists in assuring water lovers that the deadly attack was simply a freak accident.

John Searle Jr., Owner Sea Sports Belize
?Swimming with the stingrays is quite safe as long as at no time do you actually try to handle them or corner them. Because they do have the barb on their tale that they use as their defence mechanism, so if I were to swim with the rays, I?d try not to actually handle them. And if I were walking in shallow areas where I suspected rays might be on the bottom then it would be wise to shuffle your feet, rather than try to step on them.?

Janelle Chanona, Reporting
?Is there anything you can do once you?ve been stung??

John Searle Jr.
?Once you?ve been stung by the stingray, I know it?s very painful, they have a, sort of serrated barb, on the tail. All you can do is try to rinse it down with hot water, as hot as you can handle it and make sure that you clean the wound and then seek medical attention as soon as possible because I understand it?s very painful.?

The Australian government has offered to hold a state funeral for Irwin later this week, in recognition to his contributions to wildlife conservation.