My bud Jim blogged yesterday on his response to Steve “The Crocodile Hunter” Irwin’s untimely death. Now it seems that according to Irwin’s manager, John Stainton, the entire event was captured on film. Says Stainton, “It shows that Steve came over the top of the ray and the tail came up, and spiked him here (in the chest), and he pulled it out and the next minute he’s gone.”

Joel Keller, of the blog TV Squad, adds that “the ray may have been trapped between Irwin and the cameraman, say environmental experts, and that it shot out its tail in self-defense; there is no evidence that the Crocodile Hunter provoked the ray into attacking him.” Keller goes on to day, “I would imagine that the footage will never make it to the air, but you never know these days. Hopefully, the producers will lock up the footage for good.”

Unfortunately an update to Kellers’s article adds this footnote:

(UPDATE: This article says that, per Irwin’s previously-stated wishes, the family will allow the video to be shown on TV. You know, I think I’ll skip that one…)

I agree with Keller on this one. This may have been Irwin’s request, but not every last request should be honored, especially one that would add to the increasing voyeuristic tendencies of people today.

UPDATE: