Bindi Irwin Remembers Dad Steve Irwin's Death: "That Kind of Sadness Never Goes Away"

The 16-year-old says her father's passing is still hard all these years later

Bindi Irwin is opening up about the loss of her father, famed Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin.

In a revealing new interview with People, the 15-year-old says her dad's tragic passing in 2006 is still sad for her all these years later.

"I remember after we lost dad, so many adults came up to me and said, 'Honey, time heals all wounds,'" Bindi tells the mag. "That is the biggest lie you will ever hear. It doesn't. That kind of sadness never goes away. It's like losing a piece of your heart that you never get back."

"When you lose a loved one, you come to these crossroads," Bindi, who currently lives at Australia Zoo in Queensland, says. "You can take the path that leads you down the aisle of sadness, or you can say, 'I'm never going to let this person's memory die. I'm going to make sure everything they worked for continues.'"

Bindi has certainly followed in her father's footsteps. The Aussie teen works as a conservationist and wildlife advocate along with her mother Terri and brother Robert.

"Every day is a new journey for me," she added. "And I feel like in my lifetime, I've been blessed to experience such a lot."