A MUSEUM worker often mistaken for crocodile hunter Steve Irwin has paid tribute to his Australian namesake who died making a documentary.

The naturalist and television personality, best known for his hands-on tussles with wild creatures, was stabbed through the chest by the barbed tail of a stingray during a diving expedition off the Great Barrier Reef.

Paramedics from nearby Cairns battled in vain to save him but the 44-year-old died shortly after the attack.

Education officer Steve Irwin, who works at the Blackburn Museum, has frequently been mistaken for the environmentalist - but usually through the error of an internet search engine.

Mr Irwin said: "When I started work with the North West Museums, Libraries and Archives Council I was given an e-mail address that started steve.irwin. I kept getting e-mails from children, asking how they could get started in crocodile management."

The 47-year-old from Bolton added: "When I turned on the radio it was weird to hear my name and then people announcing my death. It gave me a slight queasy feeling.

"I feel very sorry for the guy. He has done a lot of good work raising the profile of conservation and animal welfare.

"It is terrible that he has died, but at least he died doing what he loved."

The Australian Steve Irwin became the star of Animal Planet's The Crocodile Hunter after his success as crocodile catcher in a government relocation scheme for rogue reptiles. His enthusiastic presenting style, broad Australian accent, constant wearing of khakis and "Crikey!" catch-phrase made him a worldwide celebrity.

He transformed his family's reptile park in Queensland into the Australia Zoo, a major centre for native wildlife, and was employed by the Department of Agriculture to promote Australia's strict quarantine and customs requirements.

He leaves a wife and two children.