I can't say that he was ever really one of my favorite people, but this is quite the news nonetheless.
After numerous close encounters with many dangerous animals. After being the butt of many jokes. After the media publicity he received for feeding a crocodile with his one month old baby in his arms. Believe it or not, it wasn't a crocodile that did the poor man in. It was a stingray.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/09/04/australia.irwin/index.html
It may not be a shock to most of you since the guy has cheated death quite a few times, but 44 is too young to die. 