Jade Small
Jade Small
December 8, 2023 ·  3 min read

Steve Irwin’s eerie ‘farewell’ speech to his crew before his death is revealed

Steve Irwin was loved by all who knew him. Even though he sadly passed away over 15 years ago, folks still haven’t gotten over his death. In fact, new information is still coming out today about the tragic day his life ended.

Born February 22, 1962, in Victoria, Australia, Steve Irwin had a love for animals from a very young age. Many claim this stems from his parents, who were also conservationists.

In 1970 the family moved from Victoria to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, where Bob and Lyn Irwin founded the Beerwah Reptile Park on 4 acres of land. Steve Irwin accompanied his father on expeditions in the Outback to trap lizards, venomous snakes, and crocodiles. And he helped to nurse and rehabilitate the injured or abandoned kangaroos, wallabies, and birds that the park took in.

Britannica

So, it’s no surprise that John Stainton saw potential in Irwin as an educational star.

Stainton is credited with bringing Irwin to the small screen and creating an international phenomenon out of the Australian wildlife enthusiast. Steve Irwin first ‘amazed’ Stainton with footage of himself catching crocodiles in the 1980s.

DailyMail

Steve Irwin Said Something Odd Before That Fateful Day

Because of Steve’s incredible gifts, John knew he would be a success on television. In fact, John was a close friend as well as the producer for many of Steve’s televised adventures. Shortly before Steve Irwin died on September 4, 2006, at the age of 44, he said something odd. Sadly, his words still haunt John Stainton to this day.

Steve Irwin best friend, TV producer John Stainton
Credit: Greg Barret/Discovery Channel

Ocean’s Deadliest was being filmed in Queensland, with John as part of the production team. Just before Steve Irwin was fatally stabbed in the heart by a stingray barb, he said something to his crew.

“A couple of days before we started the show, he made a little speech to all the crew that were up there catching crocs for his research trip – which I joined at the end with our crew to do the Ocean’s Deadliest movie. And it was really weird. He was sort of thanking them all for being who they were and for helping him. It was like a “finale” speech. Very weird.”

I’ve Got News For You

John mentioned that he felt this as a sort of premonition. In fact, his feelings were so strong about the situation he begged Discovery to reconsider canceling the film.

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“I had this idea on arriving that something was wrong, but it’s just life, you never know what things are going to do to you.”

I’ve Got News For You

However, John originally didn’t think the foreboding was aimed at Steve Irwin. In fact, John believed his premonitions were telling him that he was in danger of dying, not Steve. John even underwent several medical tests and prepared a will when Discovery refused to cancel filming.

Tragedy Strikes and the World Grieves

“I just had this premonition in January that would be the last day of my life this year. I just had this really weird feeling 
 So much so that I went and got tests and CAT scans. I thought ‘I have to have something wrong with me’ (but) nothing came back. I even made a will that year in June before we went on the trip.”

CourierMail
Steve and Terri Irwin with producer John Stainton
Bei/Shutterstock

While Stainton’s fears were for his own life, it was Irwin who was killed when the barb of a stingray pierced his chest while diving off his boat ‘Croc One’ on Batt Reef near Port Douglas. He was 44 when he died, with the tragedy shocking his fans around the world.

CourierMail

Deaths caused by stingray attacks are exceptionally rare. In fact, only 2 cases have occurred since 1945, with Steve Irwin being one of them.

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Sources

  1. “Steve Irwin’s eerie ‘farewell’ speech to his crew before his death is revealed – as his best friend admits he had a bad feeling about doomed documentary.” DailyMail. Monique Friedlander. November 15, 2021
  2. “Steve Irwin’s best friend recalls Croc Hunter’s eerie ‘farewell’ speech.” CourierMail. November 15, 2021
  3. “Steve Irwin made ‘very, very weird’ speech before he died, says ‘Crocodile Hunter’ pal.” NewYorkPost. Hannah Sparks. November 15, 2021
  4. “Steve Irwin Australian wildlife conservationist and television personality.” Britannica