20 years after Steve Irwin's tragic death, daughter Bindi says his legacy is love
It has been 20 years since renowned naturalist Steve Irwin died during underwater filming. His children Bindi and Robert Irwin have honored his memory on social media.
September 4 marked 20 years since Australian naturalist and television personality Steve Irwin, known worldwide as the "Crocodile Hunter," died at age 44. He was killed while filming an underwater documentary near the Great Barrier Reef, when a stingray pierced his chest with its barb.
Children's tributes
Irwin's daughter Bindi, who was just eight years old when her father died, is now 28 and shared a moving tribute on social media marking the anniversary. She said she had always believed her father's legacy was wildlife conservation, but realized it was actually love — for the planet and for one another. Bindi also spoke about how the loss affected the family, including her mother Terri and younger brother Robert, now 22. She said their mother lost the love of her life, while she and her brother lost the best father, and that grief remains part of their daily lives.
Bindi also mentioned her own five-year-old daughter, who watches her grandfather's documentaries every morning and feels his love despite never having met him. Bindi expressed confidence that her father's impact would be felt for generations to come.
Younger son Robert, who was only two when his father died, also paid tribute on Instagram, writing that his father's legacy would last forever. Robert has continued his father's work and even adopted his signature style — khaki T-shirt, shorts and boots.
A lasting legacy
Steve Irwin ran Australia Zoo in Queensland together with his wife Terri; the zoo is also his final resting place. He rose to fame through the documentary series "The Crocodile Hunter," which aired from 1996 to 2007 and became the second-longest-running Discovery Channel program. Several animal species, an asteroid, and a marine conservation ship have been named after him. Every year on November 15, Australia Zoo celebrates Steve Irwin Day, and in 2018 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
