Croc Hunter pulled barb out of chest before death

SYDNEY, Sep 5 (Reuters) Fatally injured by a stingray, Australian ''Crocodile Hunter'' Steve Irwin pulled its barb out of his chest before losing consciousness and dying, his manager said.

Video footage of the attack shows Irwin swimming above the stingray on the Great Barrier Reef yesterday when it lashed out and speared him in the heart with its barbed tail, Irwin's manager John Stainton told reporters today.

''It shows that Steve came over the top of the ray and the tail came up, and spiked him here (in the chest),'' Stainton said after watching the footage.

''He pulled it out and the next minute he's gone. The cameraman had to shut down,'' he said.

''It's a very hard thing to watch because you're actually witnessing somebody die ... it's terrible.'' Irwin, 44, the quirky naturalist who won worldwide acclaim as TV's khaki-clad ''Crocodile Hunter'', was filming a new documentary when he was attacked.

Stingrays are usually placid and only attack in self-defence.

Stingray venom is agonisingly painful but not lethal, say marine experts, but the barb is capable of causing horrific injuries like a knife or bayonet.

A helicopter rushed paramedics to nearby Low Isles where Irwin was taken for treatment, but he was dead before they arrived.

Irwin's death shocked the world. Millions had seen him cheat death many times as he stalked and played with crocodiles, sharks, snakes and spiders.

Known for his catchphrase ''Crikey'' during close encounters with animals, Irwin made almost 50 documentaries which appeared on the cable TV channel Animal Planet.

US-based television company Discovery Communications, which produces Animal Planet, said it would establish a conservation fund in honour of Irwin, called in one tribute a modern-day ''Noah'', and planned a marathon showing of his programmes as a tribute.

The footage of Irwin's death has been handed to police, but may never be broadcast, said Discovery.

Australian newspapers paid tribute to Irwin today with front-page photographs and stories of his death, as fans laid wreaths outside his Australia Zoo in the state of Queensland.

Newspaper headlines read: ''Farewell to the Croc Hunter'' and ''Farewell to a larrikin adventurer''.

''We thought he was Superman, that he was indestructible,'' said Sydney's The Daily Telegraph editorial.

''We were wrong''.

REUTERS DH PM0745