Steve Irwin's Dad Shares Long-Lost Note From the Crocodile Hunter

Famous wildlife conservationist died 10 years ago this month

By McKenna Aiello Sep 02, 2016 8:30 PMTags
Steve Irwin, Bindi IrwinNewspix/Getty Images

There's no doubt that Steve Irwin's legacy continues to live on past his untimely death. 

And as the famous wildlife conservationist's family prepares to reach the tenth anniversary of his passing, Steve's father Bob Irwin has revealed a particularly heart-warming note he received from his then 32-year-old son in 1998. In the letter, which is included in Bob's book The Last Crocodile Hunter: A Father and Son Legacy, Steve reflects on the lessons his parents taught him. 

"Probably one of the most unfortunate things in a 'Bloke's Life' is that it takes over 30 years to realize how essential you have been to build my character, my ethics and, most importantly, my HAPPINESS," the letter reads.

Steve continues, "At 32, I am finally starting to figure it out. In good times and in bad, you were there. Your strength and endurance to raise me will not go unrewarded. My love for you is my strength!" before concluding, "For the rest of my life I will reflect on the unbelievably GREAT times we've shared and will continue to share. You're my best friends!"

When Irwin was tragically killed in a stingray accident in September 2006, the Aussie native left behind two young children and a wife. In the years that followed, the Irwin family has honored their patriarch every step of the way. 

On daughter Bindi Irwin's 18th birthday, the Dancing With the Stars champ wrote on Instagram that she was "endlessly grateful for the love and light" she received from her family's "superhero" in the first eight years of her life. It's been particularly difficult for Terri Irwin to live without her husband, recently revealing in an interview with Australian magazine The Weekly that the 52-year-old hasn't been on a single date following The Crocodile Hunter's death. 

"I haven't been on a single date since Steve died," she said. "If I hadn't met Steve, I probably would never have married, because I wasn't looking for love when I met him. What we had was incredible."

Irwin spoke further on the matter during a separate interview, when she told ET that the reason she's not dating is because she's already experienced her "happily ever after."

"I still feel immense love and loyalty to Steve. And I've got great kids, I've got a very full life, and while I'm lonely for Steve, I'm not a lonely person. I think for other people who have lost someone and have loved again, it's a beautiful thing, but it's just not really on my horizon," Terri admitted.

Watch: Bindi Irwin Talks Tribute to Dad on "DWTS"