Steve Irwin's family celebrates 'superhero' dad, 20 years after shock death

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Steve Irwin's daughter Bindi was named after his favourite crocodile.

Australian conservationist Bindi Irwin has marked the 20th anniversary of her famous father's death with a touching tribute to the man best known as the "Crocodile Hunter.

Steve Irwin died on 4 September 2006, aged 44, after a stingray fatally pierced his chest while he was underwater filming a documentary at the Great Barrier Reef.

Bindi, que tinha oito anos quando seu pai morreu, chamou Steve de “super‑herói” em um post online na sexta‑feira, dizendo que tem “assistido o mundo lamentar meu pai com nossa família” nas últimas duas décadas.

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Steve Irwin died in 2006, survived by his wife Terri and two children Bindi (pictured) and Robert.

She described the impact of her father's death on her mother Terri and her younger brother Robert, 22.

My mum lost the love of her life; my brother and I lost the greatest dad," she wrote. "Grief never truly leaves us; we walk alongside it every day.

Bindi também compartilhou detalhes sobre como sua filha se conecta com o avô que nunca teve a oportunidade de conhecer.

Tenho uma filha de 5 anos que assiste aos seus documentários todas as manhãs. Ela se sente totalmente amada pelo seu 'avô crocodilo' sem nunca tê-lo conhecido.

Since Steve's death, the Irwins have continued to run Australia Zoo in Queensland.

Meu pai deixou um impacto duradouro tão marcante que vai reverberar por gerações futuras," escreveu Bindi, dizendo que sua vida e legado eram "merecedores de celebração.

She thanked Steve for being the family's "guardian angel" and signed off her message saying she loved him "with my whole heart.

Steve's wife Terri also took to social media to mark the day, posting an interview where the khaki-clad wildlife advocate recounted Bindi's birth and its impact on him.

The most incredible wildlife encounter of my life was the birth of my daughter, Bindi," Steve says in the interview, with his signature enthusiasm.

The first time he held his newborn child, the inspiration for her name hit him.

Fiquei atônito e foi então que o nome dela evoluiu. Eu disse, “Bindi!” em homenagem ao meu crocodilo favorito, Bindi,” ele disse, com um sorriso largo.

Robert Irwin also posted a tribute to his father, with a photo of Steve holding him when he was a baby, alongside the caption, "Your legacy is forever.

Last November, Robert was crowned the winner of US dance competition Dancing with the Stars, a decade after his sister won the same title.