Ledger DC Journal - News, Politics & Crime

The 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin should get his last wish. The man that has captivated audiences with his brilliant showmanship and saved animals with his unbelievable kindness reportedly has stated that if he was ever killed by an animal that he hoped it would be on film and he wanted it shown.

At first I dreaded when the video would be posted online. I thought it would be in poor taste and voyeuristic.

Then when I read that Steve had said he wished it to be shown I changed my mind. While it sounds very voyeuristic I believe it should be shown.

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The National Ledger reported on Tuesday that a report from Contact Music UK claims Irwin's family are determined to respect his last wishes and allow the harrowing footage to be broadcast.

The British web site claimed that Irwin once insisted, "My number one rule is to keep that camera rolling. Even if it's shaky or slightly out of focus, I don't give a rip. "Even if a big old alligator is chewing me up I want to go down and go, 'Crikey!' just before I die. That would be the ultimate for me."

They then cite an 'insider' that tells British newspaper the Daily Star, "This is exactly what Steve would have wanted. He knew the dangers and was totally up for the cameras to get everything."

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The cameras were definitely rolling. According to reports, Steve Irwin pulled a poisonous stingray barb from his chest in his dying moments, his longtime manager said Tuesday, after watching videotape of the attack that killed the popular "Crocodile Hunter."

Stainton said the video was "shocking."

"It's a very hard thing to watch, because you are actually witnessing somebody die, and it's terrible," he said.

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The one thing that concerns me is that the video may be leaked. The tape was not released to the public insteadQueensland state police took possession of a copy for a coroner's investigation.

That's concerning - this thing may leak out if someone gets it and wishes to make a buck.

The decision should be left to Terri Irwin, Steve's widow. But if the quote is accurate - and he was serious when he said it should be shown, and she is okay with it, it could be tastefully done and released to make money for the causes that Steve held so dear in life.

RIP Crocodile Hunter, you will be missed.

--Jon Shanks