Australia's famous television star and environmentalist Steve Irwin was killed in an accident in far north of Australia's state of Queensland Monday.

The tragedy happened when he was stung through the heart by a stingray while diving off Port Douglas in order to film a documentary, Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio reported.

A helicopter arrived with paramedics on board to try to resuscitate the 44-year-old, but it was too late. His body is being taken to the morgue in Cairns, a resort city of Queesland.

Irwin made his first series of the Crocodile Hunter and when the program aired in the United States, he shot to international fame. The program has been shown around the world on cable network Discovery.

Irwin, famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife, also starred in movies and has developed the Australia Zoo wildlife park, north of Brisbane, capital of Queensland.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile has said Australians will be saddened and shocked by Irwin's death.

Vaile said Irwin had made an amazing contribution to conservation and business.

Chairman of Tourism Australia Tim Fischer said he was deeply shocked by the death of Irwin, "who had done so much to help in many practical ways the momentum of tourism in Australia."

Fischer described Irwin as "truly a great Australian, a great family man, and tremendous ambassador for tourism in Australia."

Source: Xinhua