Steve Irwin, Robert Irwin’s dad, died in a freak wildlife accident in 2006 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming in the ocean, when Robert was only two years old.

What happened to Robert Irwin’s dad?

  • Steve Irwin, known worldwide as “The Crocodile Hunter,” was filming an underwater documentary at the Great Barrier Reef in September 2006.
  • During the shoot, a stingray struck him in the chest with its barb, causing fatal injuries; he was 44 years old when he died.
  • His death left behind his wife Terri Irwin, daughter Bindi Irwin, and son Robert Irwin, who has since grown up largely in the public eye.

How Robert talks about his dad now

  • Robert has said in multiple interviews that he feels “closer” to his dad as he gets older, especially because there is so much video and stories of Steve from his TV work.
  • He often describes Steve as being part of his everyday life and conversations, and that every new story or photo he discovers gives him “a little part of him back.”

Impact on Robert and his family

  • Robert credits his mom, Terri, with “holding the family together” and making sure Steve’s conservation legacy continued after his death, while she was also grieving and raising two young kids.
  • The Irwins have kept running Australia Zoo and their wildlife conservation projects, which Robert says is a major way he stays connected to his dad’s memory.

How Robert stays connected to Steve

  • Robert often says he feels closest to his dad when he is feeding or working with the same crocodiles Steve used to handle at Australia Zoo.
  • He’s also spoken about how being in Australia and working in nature helps him feel grounded in his father’s legacy, even while doing things like competing on “Dancing With the Stars.”

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.