Friday, December 29, 2006

Steve Irwin faced death the day before he died

Steve Irwin risked his life the day before he was killed by a stingray barb in far north Queensland.

The environmentalist was nearly bitten by a venomous sea snake while filming his final television show, News Ltd newspapers reported.

In a segment of his wildlife documentary, Ocean's Deadliest, Irwin swims with the two metre snake and lifts it out of the water before it threatens him, it is reported.

"Here is the biggest sea snake I've ever seen in my life," Irwin tells the camera.




"Lucky he didn't have his mouth open there. You could see how `ol Steve-o could've taken a hit."

The following day, Irwin died when a sting ray barb pierced his heart.

His death is not acknowledged in the documentary, which was completed in the weeks after his death.

The show explains Irwin's absence from some segments by saying he was `on the mainland, setting crocodile traps', it was reported.

The documentary is expected be shown in Australia on the Discovery Channel next year.

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