Knowing the risk means knowing you could die from this activity and hoping (calculating?) that you'll be skillful and lucky and survive anyway. Knowing the risk doesn't mean you stop that activity.

The one with the so-called brain thought this and he is dead. The one with the so-called no-brain - (hopefully) is not.

What may be described as a freakish accident would only apply to a normal diver keeping a respectful distance. Those who have seen his shows will know that is highly unlikely that he was staying a respectful distance from this ray.

His shows encouraged the hypocritical idea that what would be risky move for you at home - would not be so to experts like him - who knew what they were doing....But people tend to see and follow the example of what is done and not listen to such rather weak warnings. The result is to encourage this sort of dangerous and foolish interaction.

And with it, as in this case, the rather inevitable end result for the foolhardy humans but which endangers the wildlife just as much. Any form of human interaction with wild animals like bears for example - will only endanger them.

But the main point is that such examples encourage a disrespectful approach to our wild life. A return to one where a macho male has to be seen to be able to tame and subdue animals.   

I remember a visit to one of the US National Parks where a family were feeding the deer, despite being parked in front of a sign explaining all the very good reasons why this was forbidden. When challenged they replied that if 'they' did not want humans to feed the animals - 'they' should not let humans in to the park.

In these parks it is possible to get really close to large animals like elk, moose and bison. It is possible but not at all advisable. Shows like Steve Irwin's - showing one way but advising another - make it difficult to get this message across.