3Bob Irwin grew up in the Dandenong Ranges, where his passion for wildlife was born. A near-death experience made him realize he needed to follow his dreams, so he and his wife Lyn opened a wildlife park. The Irwin children grew up around the Beerwah Reptile & Wildlife Park, learned about the animals, and cared for orphaned wildlife. This unique upbringing had a profound impact on Bob's son Steve, who became world-famous as the Crocodile Hunter. Bob nearly didn't survive the sudden death of his adored wife Lyn, and it was Steve who helped him face life again. When the world tragically lost Steve to a freak diving accident, it was the natural world and the animals within it that helped Bob to keep going. Since then he has continued to fight for Steve's legacy of protecting the planet.