Robert Irwin, Son of the iconic Crocodile Hunter has revealed the passion that he shared with his late father, Steve.
19-year-old wildlife preservation warrior following in his father's footsteps has opened up to news outlet Adelaide Now about their mutual love of the ocean.
Robert told the Australian news outlet: "I've always been about the ocean from a really, really young age. It has always been my dad who had that strong connection to the sea.
"So now I feel very lucky I get to follow in those footsteps. I still use some of his old surf boards.
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"I get out there every morning into the water. I am definitely most at home when I'm next to the ocean."
Robert and his father also shared a passion for photography, which the young Irwin uses as a way of continuing his father's legacy. Robert describes it as his "own individual way to push a conservation message and continue a mission that [his] dad originally started".
Robert recently shared a heart-warming post on Instagram to commemorate what would have been the 31st wedding anniversary of his father Steve and mother, Terri. The emotional tribute described his parents' wedding as the beginning of a 'larger than life' legacy that he was 'proud' of along with a photo of his mum and dad from early on in their relationship as they posed with a lizard.
The post read: "It was on this day 31 years ago that my parents got engaged and set in motion what would become a legacy larger than life.
"I love my mum and dad so much… I'm proud to be their son."
Someone responded with: "And they're proud to call you their son! This legacy will continue on for millennia. The real warriors of our world are you guys."
Steve Irwin, famous for gracing our screens with his TV series as The Crocodile Hunter, sadly died on 4 September 2006 after being pierced in the chest by the barb of a stingray whilst he was filming a documentary about Australia's wildlife called Ocean's Deadliest in Queensland.
His family, wife Terri, daughter Bindi and son Robert have continued his conservation mission and kept his legacy alive at Australia Zoo. The Irwin's have continued to pay tribute to Steve since his unfortunate accidental death almost two decades ago; their most recent tribute being the Crocodile Hunter Lodge, a series of luxury cabins located on the zoo premises where animal fanatics and Irwin fans alike can stay.
Topics: Celebrity, Steve Irwin, Surfing, Animals
Harley Young