Steve Irwin is dead :x

[HUGECOOL]

THE Crocodile Man, Steve Irwin, is dead.

He was killed in a freak accident in Cairns, police sources said.

It appeared that he was killed by a sting-ray barb that went through his chest, Queensland Police Inspector Russell Rhodes said.

He was swimming off the Low Isles at Port Douglas filming an underwater documentary and that's when it occurred.

Ambulance officers confirmed they attended a reef fatality this morning at Batt Reef off Port Douglas.

Mr Irwin was killed just after 11am, Eastern Australian time.
It is understood he was killed instantly.

A source said Mr Irwin was already dead when his body was brought onto the Isle.

A source said Mr Irwin's body was being airlifted to Cairns Hospital in North Queensland for formal identification.

An Emergency Services Response Management spokeswoman said they received a call about the tragedy at 11.11 am, Australian Eastern Standard Time.

The response unit left in a helicopter for the Batt Reef at 11.18am and arrived shortly after.

Mr Irwin was pronounced dead at the scene immediately, the spokeswoman said.

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,5234714,00.jpg

Source (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20349534-952,00.html)

[Rashelly]

Just watching that on the news now...
Quite shocked, I must say.

[omgabear]

Just watching that on the news now...
Quite shocked, I must say.

Same, the odds of that sort of death are very very low

[Herman]

I just found out on another forum a few mins ago. RIP.

[Oracle:]

Just saw it and was about to post. A sting-ray after taking on crocodiles and snakes. What a bad way to go.

RIP and his poor family. Legand he was.

[beth]

he was proper mint. it's made me sad ;[.

[Callum.]

I saw this on the news like 10 mins ago, rip.

[Hitman]

He was awesome. RIP dude :(

[infatuation]

ouch.
that's too bad.

[Disaronno]

:o Its wierd, but what can you do?
He was great and was a bit crazy o.0 but he wont be back. R.I.P

[Sazzle]

yeeh my sister just told me. i well didnt believe her. he was was goood :[[ at least he was doing something he loved when it happened i suppose.

[ross]

yh. this is sad ;x i saw it on GMTV.

[Neversoft]

Well, I must say he was one of a kind. RIP.

[e5]

That hit me hard :( I was going to post this, I liked him so much! R.I.P. stingray barb straight into his heart :'( R.I.P. Steven Irwin!

He was yuoung at 44 and had a young family! they must be gutted.

[Humiliated]

That is a really horrible thing to here, he was going to be legendary when he was older, one of the daringest daredevils i have ever seen, he was a great man and is now in a better place R.I.P Steve :(

[omgabear]

In memory...

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/336783

sorry i didnt put more time into it.

[Humiliated]

Dude, you put an awful lot of effort into that, +rep, god bless you.

[brandon]

RIP to him, nice work omgabear.

[RadioShack]

Just seen the news :( thats terrible, RIP man.

[manicinsane1]

He was great he gave entertainment.
I was a fan of his shows.
It's just sad to know he has gone.
It's true that only the good die young.
Crikey R.I.P.

[jordybumz!]

Saw it on the news this morning. It's crazy how he works with all these crocs and snakes, but he ends up being just the second person in the world to be killed by a stingray.

RIP.

[e5]

Omg! why did it have to happen to him, he was amazing :( - back through the years >>

[Hecktix]

R.I.P.........
No-one will ever beat the Crocodile dude.

[Nixt]

I just got told.. I really can't believe it, that man was great :'(

RIP

[Jinxey]

:( I found out this morning while flicking through the channels,he was great :( RIP..

[e5]

Can't he just come back :'(, but da thing was atleast he died doing the thing he loved most! he new at one point he was going to get killed, just so this quickly! I......dunno :'( R.I.P.

[NekkLe]

Ahh poor bloke, I enjoyed watching his documentries, he was funny for being wild and crazy which I think helped make the show appeal to everyone. Its a shame he died so young aswell, but his death was bound to be caused by some sort of animal.

RIP mate.

[:Hazel]

Someone at work told me this morning, I was shocked but he did get so close to some dangerous animals at times. At least he died doing what he loved best. RIP Steve Irwin.

[brandon]

I s'pose that's what you get when you tackle the most venemous snake in the world. RIP again.

[Nixt]

I never really get bothered when celebrities die, but this has actually really made me think :'(

[NekkLe]

I s'pose that's what you get when you tackle the most venemous snake in the world. RIP again.

A sting Ray isn't a snake mate ;]

[e5]

R.I.P. :'(

[Pelfe]

R.I.P "The Croc" we'll miss your random "gifts" to
ian :'] x x

[DCeption]

:'( he was great, i alwyas watched his programs :( RIP - wot a great fella

[Charlie]

It's weird how he messed with all those croc's & everything. And then something like that kills him instantly. RIP.

[brandon]

A sting Ray isn't a snake mate ;]
Yeah I know but thats the only episode I really saw and I mean like, that's
what you get when you do all that dangerous stuff

[Djcafc.]

i was so sh****ed to hear it on the news this morning he was great im sorry to hear it

[Alton]

RIP - He surrvived snaked attacks, crocodile attacks, spider attacks and lots more.. And dies from a sting ray, hardly the most deadly thing in the world :P

Heh, I bet lots of people on HX have touched stingrays.. (London Aquarium and The Deep)

[edible]

I was gonna post this..

It's a shame really cos the odds are low.

I met him when i was 4, i was at Toronga Zoo (I think thats how u spell it)
In Sydney..

He was filming! And my mum saved the episode.
I'll try upload either.

Anyway it's shame as the odds are low and he was a cracking guy.
Did you know he once held his baby whilst feeding a crocodile. It's like OMGZ!

He was wicked y0. I loved watching him on tv. What he did was just.. breath-taking.

I could never do that.

He died doing what he loved best.
CRIKEY! RIP!

[1]

It was coming...

[gosling]

It was coming...exactly

ah well rip! :(

[edible]

It was coming...

Why do you think that eh?

World famous wildlife warrior Steve Irwin has died in a freak accident on the Great Barrier Reef, killed by a stingray barb which pierced his chest.
Friends believe the Crocodile Hunter, 44, may have died instantly when struck by the stingray while filming a sequence for his eight-year-old daughter Bindi's new TV series.
The TV star and naturalist's final, fatal confrontation with a wild animal occurred in shallow water at Batt Reef off Port Douglas on Monday morning.
Unconscious, he was pulled aboard his research vessel, Croc One, for a 30-minute dash to Low Isle, where an emergency helicopter had been summoned at about 11am, his Australia Zoo said in a statement.
The crew of the Croc One performed constant CPR during the voyage to Low Isle, but medical staff pronounced Mr Irwin dead about noon.
Mr Irwin's death was only the third known stingray death in Australian waters, said shark and stingray expert Victoria Brims.
Wildlife experts said the normally passive creatures only sting in defence, striking with a bayonet-like barb when they feel threatened or are trodden on.
Those with Mr Irwin say he was swimming in shallow water, snorkelling as his cameraman filmed large bull rays.
"He came over the top of a stingray and the stingray's barb went up and went into his chest and put a hole into his heart," said Mr Irwin's friend and manager John Stainton.
Mr Stainton said he and Mr Irwin were in north Queensland to film a new documentary called Ocean's Deadliest.
"It's likely that he possibly died instantly when the barb hit him, and I don't think that he ... felt any pain.
"He died doing what he loved best."
Mr Irwin's body was flown to a morgue in Cairns, where stunned family and friends were gathering on Monday night.
His American-born wife Terri was told of her husband's death while on a walking tour in Tasmania, and has returned to the Sunshine Coast with her two children, Bindi and three-year-old son Bob.
The death of the larger than life Mr Irwin, best known for his catchcry "Crikey!", caused shockwaves around the world, leading TV bulletins in the United States and Britain.
He was one of Australia's best known personalities internationally and a valuable ambassador for the nation and its wildlife.
Mr Irwin was also a global phenomenon, making almost 50 documentaries which appeared on the cable TV channel Animal Planet, and which generated books, interactive games and even toy action figures.
Prime Minister John Howard, once lauded by Mr Irwin as the world's greatest leader, said: "I am quite shocked and distressed at Steve Irwin's sudden, untimely and freakish death. It's a huge loss to Australia.
"He was a wonderful character. He was a passionate environmentalist. He brought joy and entertainment and excitement to millions of people."
"He was a great Australian," added Tourism Australia chairman Tim Fischer.
Mourners laid flowers at the entrance of Mr Irwin's Australia Zoo, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
Mr Stainton said bad weather had stopped filming for their documentary about some of the world's deadliest sea creatures.
Mr Irwin instead decided on a whim to shoot footage for his daughter Bindi's upcoming series.
"He said 'I might just go off and shoot some segments for Bindi's show, just stuff on the reef and little animals," Mr Stainton said.
"I just said fine, anything that would keep him moving and keep his adrenalin going.
"The next thing I heard on the radio was there was a medical emergency, the little dinghy he was in was bringing him back with the crew.
"Everyone tried absolutely tirelessly to revive him to keep him alive, we cut dinghies loose and made it post haste to Low Isle where we knew the chopper would be able to get in, but I think it's possible he probably died at 11am."
Marine documentary maker Ben Cropp said he had spoken to one of Mr Irwin's production crew.
"Steve got probably maybe a bit too close to the ray, and with the cameraman in front, the ray must have felt sort of cornered.
"It went into a defensive mode, stopped, turned around and lashed out with its tail, which has a considerable spike on it.
"Unfortunately Steve was directly in its path and he took a fatal wound."
University of Melbourne expert Bryan Fry said stingrays only sting in defence.
"Stingrays only sting in defence; they're not aggressive animals so the animal must have felt threatened. It didn't sting out of aggression, it stung out of fear," said Dr Fry, deputy director of the Australian Venom Research.
He said the stingray would have been up to 2.5 metres across, with a "formidable" jagged barb up to 20cm long, capable of tearing flesh. But the stingray's venom would not have been a factor.
Mr Irwin was comfortable around animals, no matter how dangerous, and some wildlife experts warned he took too many risks.
"(But) nothing would ever scare Steve or would worry him. He didn't have a fear of death at all," Mr Stainton said on Monday.
Mr Irwin's enthusiasm and daring made him famous.
The Melbourne-born father of two's Crocodile Hunter program was first broadcast in 1992 and has been shown around the world on cable network Discovery.
He also starred in movies and helped developed the Australia Zoo wildlife park, north of Brisbane, which was started by his parents Bob and Lyn Irwin.
He grew up near crocodiles, trapping and removing them from populated areas and releasing them in his parents' park, which he took over in 1991.
Bob was involved in a controversial incident in January 2004, when his father held his infant son in one arm as he fed a dead chicken to a crocodile at Australia Zoo.
Child welfare and animal rights groups criticised his actions as irresponsible and tantamount to child abuse.
Mr Irwin said any danger to his son was only a perceived danger and that he was in complete control of the situation.
In June 2004, Mr Irwin came under fire again when it was alleged he came too close to and disturbed some whales, seals and penguins while filming a documentary in Antarctica.
Mr Irwin had close links with Mr Howard and was a guest at The Lodge during a function for US President George W Bush in 2003.
Mr Irwin was also a tourism ambassador and was heavily involved in last year's "G'Day LA" tourism campaign.
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said Mr Irwin was an "extraordinary man".
"He has made an enormous difference to his state and his country," he said.


LOADS of info..
Sydney Morning Herald<3

[com-bat]

It was all in the job description RIP my family allways said we loved what he
done but then again we thourght that he was stupid in a way risking his life
for us everyday RIP steve irwin.

[e5]

I wanna see the family statement ;o :( poor man, R.I.P.

[micky.blue.eyes]

R.I.P Steve. :(

I hope one of his children will be the next Crocodile Hunter, he raised them to be like that so who knows.

The last show I've seen of him, he said:
"I hope I never get caught be a crocodile and die, because then the critics would say: "I told you he would get killed by a crocodile some day". I don't want to prove them right."

Well, something similar, but you get the point. :(

[Wootzeh]

VERY sad to hear, but atleast he died whilst having fun, RIP Steve :(

[cocaine]

RIP Crocodile Dude.. I suppose you died doing what you did best.

[edible]

Does anyone think that they'll put the series he was doing up?

I think it would be a brilliant tribute or something.

With like heaps of clips of him eh?

Anyone agree ?

[DCeption]

Does anyone think that they'll put the series he was doing up?

I think it would be a brilliant tribute or something.

With like heaps of clips of him eh?

Anyone agree ?

Brilliant idea, and i think it would meen alot to loads of people especially his family

[Pelfe]

i have a feeling it was part of his life documentary series and if so they'll show that.

[edible]

Mhm yeh.

[jordybumz!]

Vicks did you even see him at the big zoo in Australia?

[clarr]

rip steve.

[Eamonn]

Omgs ;o he has a wife and kids and all ;[ poor them.

[Nightcrawler]

No He was a legend

[Alterate]

I wounder if they got his death on camera...
R.I.P.

[edible]

Vicks did you even see him at the big zoo in Australia?
The one his parents started? In Queensland. I saw one of his shows there.

I saw him at Toronga Zoo aswell - my local one tbh.

Get a ferry from Balmain to toronga, takes 5-10 minutes.

It's a lovely zoo

A Kangaroo at Toronga came near me whilst i was in a buggy and i cried cos of it.
My mum even got a pic of it and hung it in our living room wall.

Edit: Yeh Alterate they did.
The camera man was infront and the sting ray felt cornered so he did it in defence.

[MsTanya]

aww bless ]: rip !!

[Blue]

poor man i went swimming with stingrays once scared the hell out of my sister

[joshuar]

such a dam shame he has died, even though i didnt sit down and watch the show he was such a legend =]

RIP dude

[Nemo]

he seemed invincible..... but hes dead? :s i guess it was bound to happen when your SO dagnerous :[ R.i.P

[Liberation]

Damn, He was a absolute legend. That amde me sad, R.I.P

[Rock_Your_Socks]

His wife asked for an autopsy coz she doesn't believe a stingray did it.

[You]

Wth is a stingray :s :rolleyes: ? RIP.

[Alterate]

Wth is a stingray :s :rolleyes: ? RIP.

http://www.m-w.com/mw/art/stingray.gif

Live's in the sea.

[Ryan+Joe]

R.I.P Steve

[You]

http://www.m-w.com/mw/art/stingray.gif

Live's in the sea.
I figured that part out...

[Alterate]

:$ Why ask then.

[:Hazel]

His wife asked for an autopsy coz she doesn't believe a stingray did it.

What does she think happened then? :s

[Microsoft]

I figured that part out...

A sting ray is basicly a nearly flat sea creature with a large tail that "stings" the victim. Some carry electric stings.

[-:Undertaker:-]

R.i.p

He was a Great Entertainer :(

[DCeption]

I feel sorry for his family :'(

[Punky]

he will be greatly missed

[Danny]

Awww, i really liked watching his stuff on tv.. and i feel really sorry for Terri, i liked her :(.

RIP Steve Irwin!!

[Josh-H]

Such a big blow for me, since a very young age I followed his work and watched his show often and then his film. He was an amazing person who gave millions of pounds a year to wildlife charities. He was one of a kind and it is a big downer.

I feel sorry for his wife and children.

Rest In Peace Steve Irwin

[Frodo13.]

Such a shock yes. But when I heard about it this morning, I couldn't help thinking that something like this was going to happen to him sooner or later.

[Disaronno]

Its wierd. Everyone looks up to him, everyone is like AMG! its bad though. Like Nixt said, i dont really care when celebs die, but for some reason now i do (for Steve) maybe its the way he went?

[Hitman]

I've been thinking about it all day :( he was an awesome dude.

[DCeption]

I dunno why i just cant get over it :'( shows how much impact he had on people, what a kinda person :( truly missed

[:dallsgreen]

Bummer, that was a cool show.

[speed-networks!]

why is he so specal?

[Michael.]

he who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.

[nip/tuck]

why is he so specal?

he was a funny, awesome entertainer :]

rip steve irwin ;[. i'm really, really shocked.

[Offspring]

Sorry but i dont agree with this post,
As much as i loved steve.

[arouse]

I might be late posting, but yeah - known for hours like you all, just didn't see this thread.

My condolences go out to his family.

[Kardan]

I'm shocked, he seemed invincible. My friends earleir said the crocodile man was dead and I hadn't a clue what they was on about. But when they said he was Australian it popped into my mind.

RIP.

And @ the person that says his wife, Terri, don't believe that it was a stingray... well it had to been ,it was caught on tape :(

[[Chris]]

RIP i actully used to watch him :'(

and i quite liked him and he did alot for animals and the environment

-

i once got stung by a ray on the foot, it really jurt then it came back and stung me again, that really hurt i feel really sorry for him

RIP

you will be missed

[Luckyrare]

http://www.uploadz.co.uk/336544rip.gif

Add that your sig to show support to his family and friends <3

[iluvben]

that's well sad :[

[Aitken]

Such a shame! He was a great entertainer and an insperation to so many people!

Just shows you the sometimes the sea and mother nature should be just left alone.
Steve irwin we will all miss you so much, you where a credit to the world. Rest in peace.

[N!ck]

I'm not usually too bothered when celebs die, but he was different ... a legend. It has come as a huge shock to the world, but he died doing what he loved doing. He was a great entertainer and a great guy. Whenever i thought Steve Irwin, i thought:

"This is the deadliest snake in the world ... now lets go poke 'im with a stick!"

R.I.P. Steve.

[DMB-Hosting]

RIP
He was such a legend

[e5]

COME BACK IRWIN :'( Crikey! :(

[Halting]

It must have been a painful death, but at least he died doing what he loved bestt.

[sock]

NO ONE GO TO CAIRNS! RIP.

[Seatherny]

aww RIP steve

[edible]

Why???

[cocaine]

We saw it coming... But of all the dangerous animals, he got killed by a stingray? That is somewhat ironic, that he tackles the most dangerous snakes and crocs, and ends up getting killed by a stingray?

[Nightrose]

He will be greatly missed, it came a shock to me to, :( RIP

[Eoin]

The guy is a ledged, and hes banter. Im not being mean of funny but he did sort-of have it coming. RIP

[e5]

I dint fink much of him back den but now I think, he was da best omg! R.I.P.!

[MsTanya]

stabbed by a STINGRAY??? after all the stuff he did with nasty animals

real loss though, loved his shows, great showman and conservationist

thoughts with terri and his two small kids

[e5]

2nd ever person to get hit by 1 he prob wudda survived if it dint hit his heart :( well go through it x.x TRAGIC ACCIDENT :( R.I.P. mate
----

[Sazzle]

i cant believe how missed he is already. like i wasnt a big fan of him and i didnt watch all of his shows, just the odd one and that, and thats the same with loadsa people but everyone is just so shocked. it feels like ive lost someone who i knew?! its well weird.

[Eoin]

Is a bit of an irony that he was killed by a non agressive stingray, when he played with poisons snakes, and toyed with crocodiles :S

[You]

:$ Why ask then.
The image didnt show when i saw what you put :eusa_wall

[Stitch]

I didn't know stingrays were that dangerous :o I heard about this on the radio this morning. Must have been painful.

[lSander]

He and everyone knew, that his job is dangerous.
it would of happened now or later, but it would of happened anyways.
But it's still sad ;[
As i said in another thread ^^

[You]

I didn't know stingrays were that dangerous :o I heard about this on the radio this morning. Must have been painful.
Lol i didnt know they were deadly either...
Didn't he die instantly, so it wasnt that bad :s

[Sazzle]

I didn't know stingrays were that dangerous :o I heard about this on the radio this morning. Must have been painful.
i think he died instantly though, so he probably didnt suffer
i dont understand all these critics saying how it was bound to happen with what he did & that, its like telling you to stop doing something you love just because they is a slight chance you'll die from it.

[Eoin]

At least he died doing what he loved i guess?

[Eamonn]

At least he died doing what he loved i guess?
Yeah suppose , but still 44 :[ its quite young to you know die.

[You]

Yeah suppose , but still 44 :[ its quite young to you know die.
i feel sorry for his kids ;[

[MsTanya]

it's almost as bad as being mauled to death by a field mouse

RIP you wacky aussie

[Nemo]

it's almost as bad as being mauled to death by a field mouse

RIP you wacky aussie
i thought he was aussome and im sad to see him go ;[

[Punky]

Is a bit of an irony that he was killed by a non agressive stingray, when he played with poisons snakes, and toyed with crocodiles :S

Stingrays may not be aggresive but they are very dangerous creatures when provoced or become scared.

"Their stinger is a razor-sharp, barbed or serrated cartilaginous spine which grows from the ray's whip-like tail (like a fingernail). It is coated with a toxic venom. This gives them their common name of stingrays, but that name can also be used to refer to any poisonous ray." Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stingray

Anyway. I really loved Steve :(. He shows rocked!!

[Ezzie.]

He was a complete and utter legend and one of my heroes, ever since i've seen him on the tv i've always known i want a job like his. His death was instant and there have only been three fatalities by stingrays since 1969 (or 49 i can't remember too well)

r.i.p mate, there's gna be a huge area of heaven awaiting :)

[RedStratocas]

Same, the odds of that sort of death are very very low

Im sure it raises a little bit when your job is to do stuff like that. Not saying Im happy he died, but he had it coming. He wrestles with dangerous animals for a living.

[MsTanya]

i thought he was aussome and im sad to see him go ;[

and so am i

[e5]

The say now... well it was obvious that steve irwin's death was filmed which obviosuly it was, but it says it on AOL, so it might possibly show it? :o

[RareIce]

Its so sad australian legend and legend in our hearts, R.I.P :(

[manga21]

R.I.P Steve ..

[:Hazel]

It's so weird that a sting ray got him, you would expect a croc or snake but apparently sting rays hardly ever kill humans. So sad. :(

[Nemo]

It's so weird that a sting ray got him, you would expect a croc or snake but apparently sting rays hardly ever kill humans. So sad. :(
yeah thats wot shocked me and stayed with me..... if u think something will kill u... it wont something else will... puts kinda bad view on life.... but then again teaches u not 2 worry, like he never did.. but then he died young... so confused ;[

[Nick-]

Hes the only celebrity ive ever felt sad about upon hearing the news of his death
I loved his work with animals and his movie, think ive got the dvd somewhere and its a shame that he went the way he did. To a stingray, someone of his character shouldve been mauled by some sort of wild animal rather than a shy, defensive and reclusive animal such as the stingray
Just a short video showing his true devotion to animals:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE2hy7OAlMk :'(

All i can say is "Crickey! Didnt see that one coming!" </3
RIP Steve Irwin and my deepest sympathy for his family and friends

[NightSlayer]

yeh rip, good dude he was.

[Rock_Your_Socks]

Is there going to be some sort of dedication on TV?
Coz when George Bets died it was everywhere, and he drank himself to death and gave himself heart failure!
But in my opinion more people care about Steve's death, and it was so sudden, there should definitely be a tribute on the discovery channel or something.

[Brody]

R.I.P he was a great guy,the real life crocodile dundee, he was a good guy always caring about animals i feel sorry for his family as he had 2 young children:(

[e5]

It's so weird that a sting ray got him, you would expect a croc or snake but apparently sting rays hardly ever kill humans. So sad. :(
he only got killed by it because it was an accident, ray didn't know he was gonna do it, his tail got in da way... but think of it like this, I aint saying he shudn't coz I love him ye k

but if an animal that could kill such as a croc came onto human land in public, its sort of trespassing, people would want to kill it for there own safety, now we don't know how a water creature works, but say steve when into their land(water) and trespassed there for he had it coming, I am not being unfair but if u think it might of been an accident but he went into their place and the creatures didn't know what it was or what it cud do so they killed it? I love him ye but n I aint being tight but thats how it could of been, hope you get me, I AM very sad that Steve Irwin died, I want him to R.I.P. :( I fell so so sorry, I also heard they are going to show his death on TV :( Im sorry steve and family! Good Luck!

[laurenx]

R I P I am half australian and yh he was great click here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8h6yXREbV0)

[Danny]

Don't know if this one has already been posted.. but i think it's really sad..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePCNuifojH4

[Demynx]

OH THE IRONY! R.I.P.
:(
His little 2 year old will never get to know his dad.

[itz jer m8]

Well, I must say he was one of a kind. RIP.
u owe wayne rep

[Uwe]

I feel more bad for his family.
I know I'm probley gunna be hated for saying this, but his death doesn't bother me mainly because I knew it was gunna happen [maybe not by a helpless animal] but the way he handels animals [not rough but you see on TV how he pins crocs down ect] I'm suprised he wasn't killed before hand..

Anyway, I will miss him in a way I guess. I'm not 100% sure why. But I nearly cried when I heard the news ;o