Crocodile Hunter dies from stingray accident

Steve Irwin, the enthusiastic star of Animal Planet's "Crocodile Hunter," died Monday after his heart was pierced by the spine of a poisonous stingray while shooting a documentary underwater.

Irwin was filming for the "Ocean's Deadliest" series off the coast of northeastern Australia when the stingray accident occurred.

"He came on top of the stingray and the stingray's barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his heart," said Irwin's friend John Stainton.

Doctors pronounced Irwin dead when they arrived soon afterward and believe he died instantly.

Irwin was just as famous for his energy and passion for his experiences on-camera as he was for his daring encounters with crocodiles and other animals.

"People think of him as this sort of wild, crazy guy...This image on television," fellow wildlife star Jack Hanna said today on "Good Morning America." "But he really was quite an expert in the field. The guy was incredible. His knowledge was incredible."

The 44-year-old adventurer had two children with his wife Terri.