CROC HUNTER IRWIN holds baby a foot from crocs mouth. idiot!

[rainstorm]

Irwin a 'bloody idiot'
Catriona Mathewson
January 3, 2004

CROCODILE hunter Steve Irwin sparked outrage yesterday when he dangled his baby son a metre from the jaws of a crocodile as a publicity stunt at his wildlife park.


CHILD'S play or stupidity ... crocodile catcher Steve Irwin with his one-month-old son Bob feeds Murray the crocodile at his wildlife park yesterday. Picture taken from Channel 7 TV footage of the stunt which can be seen on Today Tonight's website http://www.todaytonight.com.au





Child advocates branded the Queenslander of the Year reckless for holding one-month-old son, Bob, under his arm while feeding the 4m crocodile a dead chicken during a show for the public and media at Australia Zoo.

Wife Terri looked on as Irwin then "walked" his son along the ground next to the crocodile pool as the reptile, Murray, lurked nearby.

Keith Cook, the owner of Cairns Crocodile Farm and an industry veteran of 18 years, called Irwin a Hollywood version of Daniel Boone. "I think he's a bloody idiot, he's addicted to the attention," he said.

Child support groups likened the stunt to pop star Michael Jackson dangling his nine-month-old son over a balcony in Germany in 2002.

Australian Family Association spokesman Bill Muehlenberg said Irwin's conduct was tantamount to child abuse.

He said Irwin had no right to put his baby in peril.

"Most parents would cringe at the sight of such things. One slip, one fall and he is the crocodile's lunch," he said.

"You have to wonder what his motive was. It's probably good for ratings but not very good for the baby."




Irwin faces an investigation by child protection officers and safety inspectors with the incident sparking numerous complaints to Sunshine Coast police and a Families Department crisis hotline.

Under Workplace Health and Safety laws unauthorised people cannot enter a crocodile enclosure which is part of a public display.

Within hours Families Minister Judy Spence had called for unedited video tapes and Workplace Health and Safety officers confirmed they would also examine the matter.

"I have seen the television footage and while I have no doubt the Irwins love their children very much, I believe it was an error of judgment to place a baby in a potentially dangerous situation," Ms Spence said.


Irwin seemed surprised people were shocked by the show – organised as a media opportunity to mark the arrival of elephants and for Tibetan nuns to bless baby Bob.

"If I had known it was going to cause a ruckus I would have thrown them (the media) out by their ears," he said. "I was in complete control of the crocodile. Robert was tucked right in my arm.

"It is far more dangerous to pack your kid up and go out on the road."

The show was billed as Bob's "croc-feeding debut".

"Good boy, Bob," Irwin said as Murray's jaws snapped shut on the food.

"He's one-month-old, so it's about time Bob got out there and did his first croc demo," Irwin told the crowd. Irwin's wife Terri backed the decision to include Bob.

"When I put him back in the pram he had big eyes and he was smiling and it was a wonderful sensory experience for him. He dug it," she said. Irwin said he took the "sting" out of the crocodile by luring him on to land.

"Once you get a fish out of water the game changes. I felt it was safe enough to take Bob in there," he said.

"I did the same with Bindi (the couple's five-year-old daughter) and no one said anything. My kids are going to grow up here at the zoo catching crocodiles so they have to be aware of what's around them at the earliest possible stage.

"It's very similar to the 'Do the Five – Stay Alive', Lawrie Lawrence's fantastic (learn to swim) campaign."

[WXBUFFJIM]

Sounds sickening to me. Why does he hold his baby son near a Croc. I mean if this was for a purpose, then there's a good reason he's under investigation. If he gets charged for intending to hurt a child, no surprises there. That video was freaky.

Jim

[JCT777]

I am sure he had no intention of hurting his child, but there is no way he should put his child into that situation.

[rainstorm]

i think he no longer gets wows from the audience by putting himself in danger, so he decided to put his baby in danger as well. what if he had slipped and the croc ate his son?

[coriolis]

I saw the video and cringed. I've watched his show and thought he was a little nuts. Now I'm sure of it.

[Skywatch_NC]

What Irwin did is as insane as Wacko Jacko holding his baby over the balcony railing!

Eric

[Stephanie]

What Irwin did is as insane as Wacko Jacko holding his baby over the balcony railing!

Eric

You beat me to it Eric!!

[Miss Mary]

What Irwin did is as insane as Wacko Jacko holding his baby over the balcony railing!

Eric

Eric - you beat ME to it too!! My first thought was, man this guy is crazy! Second was what Michael Jackson did. They're both nuts.

I've never been impressed by Irwin anyway. I firmly believe wild animals should be respected, not exploited. I hate his show.

Mary

PS - quick edit. Another comment: you are supposed to support a one month old baby's head! This poor child's head was danging, b/c dad was feeding the crocodile with the other hand. Then he proceeds to pretend the baby is walking away - again, hold your kid's head you idiot! This is ONE MONTH OLD child. The child's mother should be reprimanded too or is she so ga-ga over hubby she can't even see this is dangerous? The entire thing is shocking.

[streetsoldier]

Maybe they can "get" Irwin with "croc molestation" if they can PROVE he's been sleeping with them.

[GalvestonDuck]

Just for clarification, a metre is not a foot.

[Skywatch_NC]

I feel for the Irwin kids if their folks intend on "making" them croc handlers for a "living"...hope those kids have minds of their own...and make better career choices!!

Eric

[chadtm80]

Dumb, Dumb, Dumb.. He must realy have his wife wipped though.. lol.. If I even got within a mile of a gator with my son, Jenn would be whoopin my arse.. LOL

[Skywatch_NC]

One time my folks and I stopped by a condo complex in Bradenton, FL, in July 2000 where some good friends ("Snowbirds") of our's resided...(they were in their summer home in Ohio at the time)...anyway, got to see the outside of their unit...after that my folks and I went down by the complex pond area...and stood next to a sign on the grass saying "BEWARE OF ALLIGATORS!"...we took turns taking our pics next to the sign...thinking "behind us"...man, I sure hope no 'gator is right nearby at all...and that they've had their feeding time by now!
LOL

Eric

[Miss Mary]

Dumb, Dumb, Dumb.. He must realy have his wife wipped though.. lol.. If I even got within a mile of a gator with my son, Jenn would be whoopin my arse.. LOL

My thoughts exactly Chad - she must not even be able to have an opinion. Let's be honest here, most dad's are more wreckless with their kids, not to the point of harming them of course, but more daring - rough housing, etc. Mom's just tend to be more cautious. So when I read she just handed him the baby, as if to say well I carried him 9 months, but here you go we can risk losing him, I just shook my head! Not your typical mom at all.

Mary

[chadtm80]

Just saw the Video on Fox News.. What was he thinking??? I know he at no time felt he was endagering his child.. The gators are like pets to him.. But what a bloody fool.. lol

[deb_in_nc]

Looks like there won't be any charges after all!

http://home.peoplepc.com/psp/newsstory. ... _story.xml

[chadtm80]

What did you expect deb.. They didnt charge Michal a-hole either

[Lindaloo]

This man is shy a full load!! That poor baby!

[deb_in_nc]

Maybe it's the fact that both incidents happened outside the US. I think that we're probably more strict in cases like that than other countries. I would hope so anyway.

Debbie

[TexasStooge]

Well, at least Steve's not like Jacko, holding the baby in the face of danger.