# Steve Irwin Dies

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2006-09-19  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/news/irwin.html

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## Analysis

Steve Irwin's death on September 19, 2006, from a stingray barb to the chest while diving has placed The Pinball Factory's first game, 'The Crocodile Hunter - Outback Adventure', on hold. The Melbourne-based manufacturer was developing the machine with Irwin's voice clips and artwork, but owner Wayne Gillard indicated the project could continue with modifications to artwork and sound. Gillard stated the intention would be to include donations to Wildlife Warriors, the charity co-founded by Irwin.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Steve Irwin was struck by a stingray barb that penetrated his chest and heart while diving at Batt Reef, off Port Douglas, Australia — _Direct factual reporting of the incident from contemporary news source_
- [HIGH] The Crocodile Hunter - Outback Adventure was to be The Pinball Factory's first game release — _Wayne Gillard statement and article description of the project_
- [HIGH] Steve Irwin had recorded voice clips and starred in the artwork for The Crocodile Hunter pinball machine — _Article states Irwin 'recorded voice clips and starred in the artwork'_
- [HIGH] Wayne Gillard indicated the game could still proceed with modifications to artwork and sounds — _Direct quote: 'the game could still go ahead but with some modifications'_
- [MEDIUM] Any proceeds from the game would include donations to Wildlife Warriors charity — _Gillard stated 'the intention would be for each game to include a donation' but noted no final decision had been made_

### Notable Quotes

> "We regret to inform the pinball community that Steve Irwin has died. Our Crocodile Hunter project is now on hold. We pass our thoughts onto Steve's family."
> — **Wayne Gillard, owner of The Pinball Factory**, September 19, 2006
> _Official statement from the manufacturer halting the project immediately following Irwin's death_

> "All the logistics have not been ironed out yet and won't be for a few months."
> — **Wayne Gillard**, September 19, 2006
> _Indicates uncertainty about timeline and decision-making process regarding the game's future_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Steve Irwin | person | Famous naturalist and TV presenter; died September 19, 2006, after being struck by stingray barb; was the subject of The Pinball Factory's first game project |
| The Pinball Factory | company | Melbourne-based pinball game manufacturer; was developing The Crocodile Hunter - Outback Adventure as its first game release |
| Wayne Gillard | person | Owner of The Pinball Factory; Australian pinball operator, collector, and content creator; communicated halt of Crocodile Hunter project to pinball community |
| The Crocodile Hunter - Outback Adventure | game | Planned first game from The Pinball Factory; was to feature Steve Irwin's voice clips and artwork; placed on hold following Irwin's death |
| Wildlife Warriors | organization | Charity co-founded by Steve Irwin and his wife Terri to support protection of injured, threatened or endangered wildlife; proposed as beneficiary of the pinball game |
| Terri Irwin | person | Wife of Steve Irwin; co-founder of Wildlife Warriors charity |
| Pinball News | organization | Pinball media outlet that reported this story and interviewed Wayne Gillard |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Game production halt due to talent death, Licensing and IP challenges, The Pinball Factory business status
- **Secondary:** Charity integration in pinball game design

### Sentiment

**Negative** (0.15) — Somber reporting of a tragic death with respectful acknowledgment of impact on the pinball project. Tone is respectful and factual while covering the serious subject matter.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Impact on The Pinball Factory's launch title and timeline; first game project indefinitely delayed (confidence: high) — Project described as 'on hold' with Wayne Gillard uncertain about when logistics will be resolved
- **[licensing_signal]** Death of celebrity subject creates licensing/IP complications requiring modifications to artwork, playfield, backglass, and audio content (confidence: high) — Gillard indicated game could proceed 'with some modifications to the artwork - both the playfield and the cabinet/backglass - as well as the sounds'
- **[product_strategy]** The Crocodile Hunter - Outback Adventure placed on indefinite hold following the death of its subject, Steve Irwin, who provided voice work and artwork for the machine (confidence: high) — Wayne Gillard statement: 'Our Crocodile Hunter project is now on hold' and 'All the logistics have not been ironed out yet and won't be for a few months'

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## Transcript

Story dated
September 19, 2006
.

The future of The Pinball Factory's first game on hold following the death of its subject.

The famous naturalist and TV presenter Steve Irwin died after a freak diving incident in the Great Barrier Reef off Australia's North-East coast.

Steve Irwin with his wife and daughter.

Picture courtesy Press Association/BBC

Irwin was struck by the barb from a stingray swimming nearby. The barb penetrated his chest and heart. Despite best efforts to resuscitate him, he died on his research vessel Croc 1 which was moored nearby in

Batt Reef, off Port Douglas.

Steve had recorded voice clips and starred in the artwork for The Crocodile Hunter - Outback Adventure which was to be the first game released by Melbourne-based The Pinball Factory.

Owner Wayne Gillard said "We regret to inform the pinball community that Steve Irwin has died. Our Crocodile Hunter project is now on hold. We pass our thoughts onto Steve's family."

He told Pinball News how the game could still go ahead but with some modifications to the artwork - both the playfield and the cabinet/backglass - as well as the sounds.

He also said the intention would be for each game to include a donation to the Wildlife Warriors - the charity set up by Steve and his wife Terri to

support the protection of injured, threatened or endangered wildlife.

No final decision about the game has been taken yet and Wayne told Pinball News:

"All the logistics have not been ironed out yet and won't be for a few
months."

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_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 7320c242-1866-403a-acf0-071206036648*