According to a close acquaintance, Australian TV star Steve Irwin gave a “very, very weird” speech only weeks before his death.

The Crocodile Hunter, as he was known, died on September 4, 2006, at the age of 44, after being penetrated in the chest by a stingray barb while filming Ocean’s Deadliest in Queensland.

On a recent edition of the “I’ve Got News For You” podcast, “The Crocodile Hunter” producer John Stainton spoke up about his late buddy, discussing Irwin’s final days with presenter Andrew Bucklow.

“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,” John explained.

‘And it was really weird. He was sort of thanking them all for being who they were and for helping him. It was like a “finale” speech. Very weird,’ Stainton added.

‘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.’

Stainton said he even made a will and had many medical exams after having a “premonition” he would die on the trip, but was continually told he was healthy.

During his ten years as presenter of “The Crocodile Hunter” and its spin-offs, the globe has grown to respect the ceaselessly passionate animal lover and daredevil.

Stainton had claimed during a press conference following Irwin’s death that his buddy died doing “what he loved.”

“‘He died what hee loved doing best. He left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind. He would have said, ‘Crocs rule’.”

Steve’s wife, Terri, and children, Bindi and Robert, have frequently spoken about him in the years since his death.

In 2019, Bindi told People magazine, “Dad was my hero and the greatest Wildlife Warrior. It’s a blessing to continue his work with my amazing family. We hope to make him proud every day. We are celebrating with lots of khaki and animals! Khaki’s not just a color, it’s an attitude!”

Stainton is credited with taking Irwin to the small screen and turning him into an international sensation.

In the 1980s, Irwin ‘amazed’ Stainton with footage of himself catching crocodiles, and he was present when a stingray killed him.