SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- Steve Irwin, the Australian TV presenter known as the "Crocodile Hunter," has died after being stung in a marine accident off Australia's north coast.

Australian media reports say Irwin was diving in waters off Port Douglas, north of Cairns, when the incident happened on Monday morning.

Irwin was killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest, according to Cairns police sources. Irwin was filming an underwater documentary at the time.

Ambulance officers confirmed they attended a reef fatality Monday morning off Port Douglas, according to Australian media.

Queensland Police Services also confirmed Irwin's death and said his family had been notified.

Irwin, 44, was director of the Australian Zoo in Queensland.

He and his American-born wife Terri Irwin became popular figures on Australian and international television through Irwin's close handling of wildlife, most notably the capture of live crocodiles.

Irwin's enthusiastic approach to nature conservation and the environment won him a global following.

But his image suffered a setback in 2004 when he held his then one-month-old baby while feeding a crocodile at his Australian zoo.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/09/04/australia.irwin/index.html

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Poor guy, I thought his latest Sportscenter commerical was hilarious.

That's a real bummer. Steve Irwin was a larger than life character. I wonder what will happen to the Australia Zoo now that he has died. Hopefully Terry and the crew will keep it going.

My wife and I are spending a month in Australia and New Zealand in October and November and one of the highlights was to be a visit to Brisbane to see the zoo. We will still go but the zoo won't be the same without him.

It would be fair to state that we are all sorry this guy died... 3rd thread I have found on poor Steve's demise... :)

The tail on that thing must have some kind of strength in it to pierce a wet suit etc.