The late Steve Irwin, known to the world as the enthusiastic and fearless ‘Crocodile Hunter,’ was not only a beloved wildlife conservationist and television personality but also a devoted father and husband.
In a podcast interview, his daughter Bindi, now 26, got candid about her childhood memories with her father before he passed away when she was just eight years old. She described their family’s life as a ‘hurricane of adventure and wonder because of dad.’
Steve Irwin’s legacy as the host of The Crocodile Hunter and his work at the Australia Zoo, which he took over from his father Bob Irwin in 1992, are well-known. Alongside his wife Terri, Steve expanded the zoo’s conservation efforts, a mission that continues to this day under the stewardship of Terri, Bindi, and her brother Robert.
Aside from the ‘whirlwind’ life Bindi shared with her family, she also disclosed a lesser-known aspect of her father’s life—his battle with chronic insomnia.
Bindi’s revelation about her father’s struggle with sleeplessness paints a picture of a man who was driven by an unstoppable work ethic and a deep passion for his work in conservation.
According to Bindi, her father ‘had terrible insomnia’ that ‘he just never slept.’
‘He would wake up at 2am and by the time everyone else’s workday has started, he’d put in a full day’s work,’ she explained.
This dedication was further evidenced by a recent discovery at the Australia Zoo offices, where staff found a treasure trove of Steve’s journals during a renovation.
Bindi shared that her father ‘had such a scientific mind’ and meticulously documented ‘thousands of pages’ of information, studies, and findings.
These journals, written in the quiet hours of the night, are a testament to Steve’s commitment to understanding and preserving wildlife.
The Irwin family faced a profound loss when Steve tragically passed away in 2006 after being struck in the chest by a stingray barb while filming a documentary in the Great Barrier Reef.
Bindi and her younger brother Robert were just eight and two years old, respectively, at the time of their father’s death.
‘I remember when I was little and dad had just died, every adult that I saw would say to me: ‘Time heals all wounds.’ And I remember thinking, as an eight-year-old: ‘What … does that mean?’ Why do people keep telling me like, one day I’ll forget about this?’ she recalled, adding that the thought made her scared because ‘that information is wrong.’
‘So firstly, don’t say that to an eight-year-old. Time changes your grief. Time changes things and your perspective and everything.’
Now, as an adult, Bindi understands that grief evolves over time but never truly disappears. She likens the enduring sadness and sense of loss to a ‘scar on your heart,’ a permanent reminder of the love and connection she shared with her father.
Steve Irwin’s life was indeed a ‘whirlwind’ of adventure, passion, and dedication. His untimely death left a void in the world of wildlife conservation and the hearts of his family and fans. Yet, through Bindi’s candid reflections, we gain insight into the complexities of the man behind the legend—a man who, despite his struggles, left an indelible mark on the world.
Do you also struggle with sleeplessness and chronic insomnia? What keeps you up at night? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Also read: Why too many Aussies are not getting enough sleep
I thank Bindi for sharing this story about Steve. God bless Stave and his family for what they are doing for conservation around the World.