Bindi and Robert Irwin pay tribute to dad Steve Irwin

The late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin's children, Robert and Bindi, have paid tribute to their father, 20 years after his death. He died in 2006 after being fatally struck by a stingray barb while snorkelling off north Queensland. What's next? Steve Irwin is being remembered as a loving dad and for his contribution as a wildlife conservationist. Bindi and Robert Irwin have each shared heartfelt tributes to their father and Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, 20 years after his tragic death, with Bindi describing him as a beloved "guardian angel". Bindi was eight and Robert was just two when their father was fatally struck by a stingray barb while snorkelling off Port Douglas in 2006. Both Bindi and Robert have followed in their father's footsteps, pursuing wildlife conservation, while finding their own fame and success both in Australia and the United States. On Instagram, Robert shared a photo of himself as a khaki-clad baby looking up at his mud-covered dad. "Your legacy is forever," he wrote. Bindi shared a video of an excited Steve talking about the day she was born, describing it as "the most incredible wildlife experience of my life". "And here's this little baby girl! I swear she just fit right in here in the palms of my hands. "I was flabbergasted. It was a combination of adrenaline and emotion. "For me to deliver my daughter was a very special moment. I can't dwell on it too much because I'll start to cry," Steve said in the video. Bindi wrote that her father's death was more than just the loss of "the most passionate and dedicated wildlife conservationist". "Our family lost our superhero," she wrote. "My mum lost the love of her life; my brother and I lost the greatest dad. "Grief never truly leaves us; we walk alongside it every day. "Where there is enormous grief, there is even greater love. "In that 20 years, I have watched the world mourn my dad with our family." She said that she has learned that beyond wildlife conservation, her father's legacy was one of "love". "I have a five-year-old daughter who watches his documentaries every morning. "She feels utterly loved by the 'grandpa crocodile' without having met him." Bindi said his life and legacy were worth celebrating, and so was the love he had for his family. "Dad, I love you with my whole heart," she said. "Thank you for being our guardian angel, and most of all, thank you for watching over my daughter now too. "She loves you so much. We all do." ABC Sunshine — local news in your inbox Get our local newsletter, delivered free each Wednesday