According to a statement released by the Australia Zoo, “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin was tragically lost while filming off the Great Barrier Reef. It was reported that Irwin was killed when swimming over a stingray, which subsequently stung him in the chest inducing cardiac arrest. His wife Terri and children Bindi Sue and Bob Clarence Irwin survive him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family in this difficult time.

In an era of rabid anthropomorphism, where wild animals are depicted as Disneyesque characters waiting for a chance to interact peacefully with humans, Irwin showed us that you could love nature without sugarcoating it. The Crocodile Hunter taught viewers that while they may love animals, those feelings are not reciprocated, that wildlife is just that: wild. Steve Irwin showed the world that we could love nature as it is, untamed, dangerous and terrifying, and not as we’d like it to be: safe.

For ECW fans, myself included, Steve Irwin will be missed because though he was not a wrestler, he was “hardcore.” For all his fans, we can only say goodbye, and thank you.