Steve Irwin died 17 years ago and nobody knows what happened to the tape recording of his death
The death of Steve Irwin remains etched in the minds of millions worldwide, and the mystery surrounding the footage of his tragic final moments continues to stir curiosity. This year marked the 17th anniversary of Irwin’s passing, and as always, questions about the tape that captured his last moments linger.
Irwin was a beloved figure, known for his fearless and passionate work with animals. His shows, such as The Crocodile Hunter and Croc Files, were staples for animal lovers across the globe. However, the filming of one of these shows would become his final moments on camera.
Steve Irwin’s Last Moments
On September 4, 2006, Steve Irwin was filming for Ocean’s Deadliest at the Great Barrier Reef with Philippe Cousteau Jr. Tragically, while snorkeling in Batt Reef near Port Douglas in North Queensland, a stingray pierced Irwin’s chest, stabbing him repeatedly. Cameraman Justin Lyons later reported that the stingray’s barb punctured his chest about 100 times, and though Irwin initially believed the injury to be in his lung, it was later revealed that the barb had struck his heart.
In the moments following the attack, the crew scrambled to save him, rushing to the shore and performing CPR as paramedics arrived. Despite their best efforts, Steve Irwin was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
What Happened to the Infamous Tape of Steve Irwin’s Death?
What makes this tragic story even more unsettling is the fact that the moment of the attack was filmed, as per Irwin’s personal request for his crew to always keep the camera rolling. However, while most copies of the footage were destroyed, one was left behind—and its whereabouts remain a mystery.
Terri Irwin, Steve’s wife, has publicly stated that she believes the tape is sitting in a police vault after the 2007 investigation into his death. Despite this, rumors about the footage have circulated for years. On social media, many claimed to have seen the video, but these were all proven to be fake. In a 2018 interview with You Magazine, Terri Irwin made it clear that she had never watched the actual footage, calling those fabricated videos “complete fabrications” and emphasizing how distressing it would be to see her husband’s final moments. “I know how my husband died, and I was relieved that the children weren’t on the boat as they usually would be; it would have been horrendous if they had witnessed it,” she said.
A Twist of Fate
A tragic detail surrounding that fateful day was that Irwin had not planned to be at sea. Due to bad weather, filming was initially canceled, but Irwin decided to film a segment for his daughter Bindi’s TV show instead. John Stainton, the director of the program, explained that Steve had expressed interest in filming some typically harmless stingrays. Unfortunately, what should have been a peaceful encounter took a fatal turn. As Steve swam near a stingray, it began “stabbing wildly” with its tail. This unexpected aggression from the usually docile creature resulted in the fatal injury.
Cameraman Justin Lyons Remembers the Unthinkable Moment
Cameraman Justin Lyons shared his experience of the incident in a 2014 interview, recalling how the stingray likely mistook Steve’s shadow for that of a tiger shark, a natural predator. Lyons had been filming and didn’t realize something had gone wrong until he panned back to see Steve standing in a pool of blood. “I didn’t even know it had caused any damage,” Lyons said. “It wasn’t until I panned the camera back, that Steve was standing in a huge pool of blood, that I realized something had gone wrong.”
The Promise to Keep Steve Irwin’s Final Footage Private
John Stainton, who was present that day, promised that the footage would remain private, even after the investigation was completed. In a 2006 interview with Larry King, Stainton made a solemn vow: “When that is finally released [after being investigated], it will never see the light of day. Ever. Ever. I actually saw it, but I don’t want to see it again. I would never want that tape shown.”
Despite the vow to keep the tape private, the mystery of its location persists. Whether or not it will ever be released to the public remains uncertain, but it’s clear that the legacy of Steve Irwin continues to live on, not just in the hearts of his family and fans, but in the mystery that still surrounds the footage of his tragic passing.