Producer and friend of Steve Irwin, John Stainton, has revealed he “tried to stop” the production that resulted in Steve’s death from a stingray while filming a documentary on September 4, 2006.
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The long-term friend of the Crocodile Hunter – who spent over 15 years travelling with Steve – spoke on news.com.au’s new daily news podcast, I’ve Got News For You, about the fateful turn of events.
In the interview, John said he “felt uncomfortable” about the underwater documentary, titled Ocean’s Deadliest, after feeling an unexplained sense of impending doom that he was going to die.
“I felt uncomfortable about it when we were sort of going into the production. In fact, three weeks before we were lined up to shoot I actually rang Discovery and said ‘Look at I don’t feel good about this thing’,” he said.
“I just had this premonition in January that would be the last day of my life this year. I just had this really weird feeling … So much so that I went and got tests and CAT scans. I thought ‘I have to have something wrong with me’ (but) nothing came back.
“I even made a will that year in June before we went on the trip,” he added.
While John feared for his own life, it would be Steve’s that tragically ended after stingray pierced his chest while diving off his boat ‘Croc One’ on Batt Reef near Port Douglas.
Eerily, John also revealed that the dad-of-two gave an ominous speech to crew members ahead of filming, with the producer recalling it seemed like a “farewell speech”.
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“A couple of days before we started the show, he made a little speech to all the crew that were up there catching crocs for his research trip which I joined at the end with our crew to do the deadliest movie. And it was really weird,” he began.
“He was sort of thanking them all for being who they were and for helping him … It was like a ‘finale’ speech… Very weird.
“I had this idea on arriving that something was wrong, but it’s just life, you never know what things are going to do to you,” he added.
John also recalled the heartwrenching moment he called Terri Irwin to deliver the devastating news.
“I can remember that night, I couldn’t sleep,” John said of making the calls.
“I think when you’re, as anyone that will know when they’re in a state of grief grieving and sadness and shock, that you have to do what you have to do,” he added.
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