Robert Irwin is opening up about how he stays connected to his late father, Steve Irwin, two decades after the Crocodile Hunter star’s tragic death.
A Deep Connection in Nature
During a March 10 appearance on Anderson Cooper’s All There Is podcast, the 22-year-old wildlife conservationist revealed he feels closest to his father when he’s “in the middle of nowhere.”
“I’ll be hit with this sense of— it’s warmth, it’s like something kind of wraps around me,” Robert said, breaking down in tears. “And I will absolutely sit and just say, ‘How do I go forward?’”
Steve Irwin died in September 2006 at age 44 after being fatally stung by a stingray while filming off the coast of Australia.
Navigating Grief in the Public Eye
Robert admitted that growing up in the spotlight made his grief journey more complicated. “Sometimes, one of the nicest things is to kind of just let it all go,” he explained. “I let it all sort of pour out, and it feels like I’m kind of letting him in.”
He added that there are moments when he feels his father is “trying to say something,” offering guidance when he needs it most.
A Powerful Crocodile Encounter
One of those moments came during Robert’s first time leading a crocodile research expedition in Northern Australia. He captured a crocodile that had been tagged 20 years earlier — by Steve himself.
“We managed to use satellite technology to figure it out, and we caught him in the exact same spot that Dad did,” Robert recalled. “It felt like that was Dad being like, ‘This is your first time leading the team. You’re on the right track. Here’s a little sign.’”
Carrying On the Legacy
Robert continues to honor his father’s legacy through conservation work and public outreach. His emotional reflections highlight the enduring bond between father and son, and the ways in which Steve Irwin’s influence still guides him today.
