Steve Irwin has died at 44

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STEVE Irwin, one of Australia's most well-known and well-loved figures, has died at the age of 44.

It is understood Irwin, a passionate conservationist and wildlife advocate, was killed when a stingray barb went through his chest.

Irwin spent every day working with all manner of dangerous creatures - giant crocodiles, poisonous snakes, komodo dragons - but it was a less obvious hazard that claimed his life.

Irwin had taken calculated risks with all sorts of wildlife for decades, relying on his knowledge of animal behaviour and personal experience to beat the odds.

For someone who spent so much time around killer animals, Irwin seemed to leave a charmed life.

So his demise was all the more shocking because it apparently involved a stingray, an animal regarded as dangerous but not as a killer.

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