Dancing With Death
September 17, 2006
By: Sellers S. Crain, Jr.
The Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, died last Monday from a freak incident involving a Sting Ray in Australia's Great Barrier Reef. He was filming a documentary about these normally docile creatures for his popular TV program. These beautiful creatures seldom ever go into defensive mode unless they feel threatened. Experts in the study of these animals say that most people who are "stung" by them accidentally step on them since they stay close to the bottom and often hide in the sand on the ocean floor. They even recommend that if you are walking in the ocean, even in shallow water, to do the Sting Ray Shuffle, kind of shuffling across the sand, to warn the Sting Ray of your approach. They will usually make a hasty retreat without harming anyone. The crew that was with Irwin say that he was not doing anything daring at the time, and that he wasn't swimming closely above the animal. Why it suddenly attacked remains a mystery.
People have long enjoyed swimming with these creatures, and in controlled situations where their deadly barbs have been sheared off, they hold on to them as they glide through the water. Yet, Irwin, in what has been described as a non-threatening situation was suddenly struck in the heart by a poisonous barb from a large bull String Ray. He died within minutes, even though his friends and co-workers, including a medical doctor, made a valiant attempt to save him. News reports say that very few people are stung by these animals each year, and there are only three recorded deaths. So how could this have happened? How could a man so knowledgeable about animals of all kinds, be caught off guard?
Irwin, who has been called one of the most notable environmentalist and conservationist in the world, has danced with death for years now. The popularity of his TV. show was partly due to the extreme limits to which he would go to teach his audience about wild animals. He got his nickname "The Crocodile Hunter" from his many encounters with crocodiles, some enormous in size. In Irwin's own words, crocodiles are "The dinosaurs of our age." Irwin did not stop with crocs, he toyed with alligators, huge lizards, spiders, and some of the deadliest poisonous snakes on earth. He loved to grab them by the tail and show them to his viewers. I was not surprised that Irwin died while examining one of earth's creatures up close and personal. He had been dancing with death for years, but I was surprised at the manner of his death and by the animal who caused it. One of Irwin's best friends, John Stanton, who was also his producer, remarked that "He died doing what he loves best." The 44 year old Irwin leaves behind a wife and two children.
Some adventurous people do the same thing Steve Irwin did in other ways. They dance with death by abusing drugs, even prescription drugs. Many people and increasing numbers of young people abuse alcohol, and many drink and then drive a vehicle. In spite of all the warnings and the evidence of their deadly consequences, many people still smoke tobacco or use it in other forms. Alarming numbers of young kids are now indulging in this life threatening habit. Many people toy with sexual sins and see how far they can go without actually engaging in intercourse. Engaging in any sin to see how far you can go without getting caught, is dancing with death spiritually, and the end result can be the loss of your eternal soul. Steve Irwin danced with death many times before finally falling victim to its fatal blow. You cannot play with fire without getting burned. Sooner or later, it will get you.
Brotherly,
Sellers
