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No state funeral for Steve Irwin No state funeral for Steve Irwin
(20 minutes later)
The father of Australian "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin has said his family has declined a government offer of a state funeral for his late son.The father of Australian "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin has said his family has declined a government offer of a state funeral for his late son.
A private funeral for Mr Irwin will be held in the next seven days, his father said in a statement. A private funeral will be held in the next seven days, his father said in a statement. But there will also be a memorial service within two weeks.
The popular TV star died on Monday in a stingray attack while filming sea creatures off the Australian coast.The popular TV star died on Monday in a stingray attack while filming sea creatures off the Australian coast.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard had said Mr Irwin could have a state funeral if his family requested one. Mr Irwin had been offered a state funeral if his family requested it.
'Ordinary bloke'
On Wednesday Mr Irwin's father had indicated that a state funeral would probably be refused.
"He's an ordinary guy, and he wants to be remembered as an ordinary bloke," Bob Irwin said.
Mr Irwin also said that both father and son were aware of the extreme risks involved in Steve's work.
"Both of us over the years have had some very close shaves and we both approached it the same way, we made jokes about it," Mr Irwin said.
"That's not to say we were careless. But we treated it as part of the job."
The 44-year-old naturalist died after being struck in the chest by the stingray's barb while he was filming a documentary in Queensland's Great Barrier Reef.
Donations have flooded into Wildlife Warriors, the wildlife charity that Steve Irwin set up and flowers, cards and trademark khaki shirts have been left near the gates of the Australian Zoo that he ran.