How Steve Irwin spent his final weeks alive as widow Terri reveals 'sweet goodbye'

The widow of tragic conservationist Steve Irwin, Terri, has honoured his legacy with an emotional social media post.

20 years ago to the day, the Australian wildlife nut (who thought nothing of chasing crocodiles and dangling venomous serpents in front of his face) lost his life while shooting a documentary titled Ocean's Deadliest with Philippe Cousteau Jr around the Great Barrier Reef.

While in the water of Batt Reef, Queensland, Irwin approached a short-tail stingray, which in turn 'propped on its front' and pierced him in the heart multiple times with its barb.

He passed out and never regained consciousness, leaving behind wife Terri and their two young children, Bindi and Robert.

Earlier today, via her Instagram profile, Terri marked her husband's death anniversary by revealing how he spent his final weeks before the freak incident.

"After 20 years, grief still walks with me like my shadow," she wrote alongside a photo of him holding a lizard.

"With the passing of time I have gained more perspective and understanding. We were together as a family, on our crocodile research expedition, for what was to be our final six weeks together.

"Ours was to be a long and sweet goodbye. Steve spent time with Bindi and Robert building swings and climbing trees. We all slowed down. Time slowed down.

"I believe that all of us, every one of us, gets to say goodbye," her post continued. "We just may not know that we're saying it. Hold every moment dear with the ones you love. Until we meet again."

Bindi and Robert Irwin remember their dad

Meanwhile, Bindi, who briefly broke away from her family's ongoing conservation efforts by winning Dancing with the Stars in 2015, uploaded her own special message.

It read: "20 years ago today, the world lost the most passionate and dedicated wildlife conservationist. Our family lost our superhero. My mum lost the love of her life; my brother and I lost the greatest dad.

"Grief never truly leaves us; we walk alongside it every day. Where there is enormous grief, there is even greater love.

"In the last 20 years, I have watched the world mourn my dad with our family. I always thought that my dad's legacy is wildlife conservation; it turns out, his legacy is love. For our planet and for each other."

The 28-year-old continued: "I have a five-year-old daughter who watches his documentaries every morning. She feels utterly loved by her 'grandpa crocodile' without ever having met him. My dad left a lasting impact so poignant that it will ripple out for generations to come. I believe with my whole heart that his love will live on forever. In all of us. In every kindness we show to the Earth. And that is a life and legacy worth celebrating [red heart emoji].

"Dad, I love you with my whole heart. Thank you for being our guardian angel. And most of all, thank you for watching over my daughter now, too. She loves you so much. We all do."

Robert's tribute to his fallen hero consisted of a picture of him being held as a baby out in the Australian bush.

"Your legacy is forever," was the accompanying sentence.