It’s been nearly 19 years since the world lost Steve Irwin, one of the greatest conservationists.

Steve had a deep and abiding love for animals of all kinds. He introduced countless species to the wide public and spoke about the natural world with genuine passion and care. More importantly, he passed that love on to his children, who have continued his work and are proudly carrying on his legacy.

In 2006, while filming at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Steve tragically lost his life. He was pierced through the chest by a stingray.

“He was having trouble breathing. Even if we’d been able to get him into an emergency ward at that moment we probably wouldn’t have been able to save him, because the damage to his heart was massive,” Justin Lyon, an underwater cameraman and Steve’s close friend told Australia’s Network Ten television.

“As we’re motoring back I’m screaming at one of the other crew in the boat to put their hand over the wound and we’re saying to him things like, ‘Think of your kids, Steve, hang on, hang on, hang on.’ He just sort of calmly looked up at me and said, ‘I’m dy.ing.’ And that was the last thing he said.”

The Crocodile Hunter star is still deeply missed by many, especially his wife, Terri Irwin, and their children, Bindi and Robert.

Steve and Terri met in 1991 and they were married for 14 years. He once mentioned on his show that the moment he saw Terri, he knew she was the one—describing it as “love at first sight.”

Following Steve’s tragic de.ath, Terri has done everything in her power to keep his legacy alive. Over the years, she has openly shared that she still misses her husband.

In an interview with Stellar Magazine in April 2025, Terri revealed she’s still single.

“I’m sure there’s a lot of lovely people out there in the world, but I did find my happily ever after, and I think I still have a lot of love in my life.”

She went on to admit: “So I’m lonely for Steve, but I’m not lonely. I never mourn being on my own and not being in a relationship. I think we need to say that.

Terri added, “I think women are still amazing, fulfilled, incredible people – even if you never marry, if you have four kids, or two kids, or no kids.

“There are no rules.”

There were rumors in the past that Terri Irwin was dating actor Russell Crowe.

However, she dismissed these claims, explaining that Crowe is actually a close family friend.

“In all honesty, he and Steve became friends many years ago, and after Steve passed, you find out who your true friends are. And Russell has been very loyal as a great friend,” she told Access Hollywood.