RIP Crocodile Hunter.

Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, has died while filming a documentary off the coast of north Queensland, when a stingray barb went through his chest.

The 44-year-old was at Batt's Reef north of Port Douglas when the accident occurred. Mr Irwin's body is being flown to Cairns.

Brisbane Courier-Post reporter Cameron Hatchford told Newstalk ZB the stingray's barb hit him in the chest, and he died from a cardiac arrest shortly afterwards. He says Far North police are frantically trying to contact Irwin's wife Terri, to tell her the news before the media does. She is understood to be tramping in a remote area of Tasmania and it may be some time before she can be informed.

Steve and Terri Irwin have two children, Bindi (8) and Robert (3 in December).