Friends vow to continue Irwin's work

Michael Hornsby said people were leaving donations and flowers at the Zoo. Picture / Reuters

It's the man behind the myth that "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin's friends and staff will miss most, but all are determined to keep his legacy burning bright.

The website for the charity established by Steve and wife Terri to help injured animals, Wildlife Warriors, was unable to keep up with demand yesterday.

It continually crashed as people attempted to log on and leave messages of support and donations.

Wildlife Warriors executive manager Michael Hornby said the team was struggling to come to terms with the death of their close friend and benefactor, but the public response had been overwhelming.

"People are coming to the zoo, leaving donations, flowers, the phones are ringing off the hook, I suppose you could say it's a bit like a Lady Di moment," he said.

"Even though we all knew Steve and all knew the impact he had, we have been astounded by the response.

"So many of the staff knew him on a personal level, it's like an extended family and I think we have all just been a little bit shocked at just how huge and widespread the response has been."

Mr Hornby said no one was under any illusion of how big a hole was left by Irwin's passing.

"He did so much under the radar, without any of his fans or the media knowing, he just did so much for wildlife and habitat conservation.

"Our role is to continue his work and we have a lot of pressure on us to somehow live up to this great legacy that Steve has left.

"The best thing we can do for Steve's legacy is to continue the work that he started and continue to take it forward."

In between fielding "thousands of calls" from the media, Australia Zoo marketing manager Peter Lang was still struggling to accept the loss of his friend and boss.

"I don't think we have had time for the shock to set in," he said.

"I started fielding calls yesterday [Monday] from Channel 9 and 7 and I laughed them off, saying this was probably the best rumour we had heard in a while, because we've had a few over the years," he said.

"So I said I'd add the stingray to the list, not knowing that in less than an hour it would be confirmed and we would be in mourning.

"We gathered as a family… and it was so deathly quiet, and usually this place is so rambunctious and so full of life, something we get from Steve. But for the first time I could remember we could hear nothing but the wind and the quiet, and looking up the sky was grey and I guess that's how my heart feels."

Mr Lang said he would treasure the memory of camping out at one of the Irwin conservation sites "out west" with Steve and his father Bob, "sitting under the stars, eating pea soup and crusty bread" but it would be the family man and friend he would miss the most.

"At the end of the day when people have stopped calling, when the media has gone away and when it all goes quiet there is a beautiful woman who has lost her husband and two gorgeous darling children who have lost their dad.

"Steve has left a great footprint on the world and he has started something very special and now it is up to us to finish it for him.

"But I'm still expecting Steve to walk through the gate and say 'Crikey! Come on let's get on with it'."

- SUNSHINE COAST DAILY