Bindi Irwin was forced to miss a major tribute event for her late father, Steve Irwin, after being rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery.
The 26-year-old conservationist and TV star had travelled to Las Vegas for the annual Steve Irwin Gala on Saturday (May 10), but her plans changed dramatically when she was suddenly hospitalized.
Her brother, Robert Irwin, revealed the news at the event, confirming to PEOPLE that his sister underwent an unexpected operation just hours before the gala.
“She’s going to be OK, but surgery - out of all the things we were ready for, that was not one of them,” Robert, 21, told the outlet, adding that their mother, Terri Irwin, 60, was also absent from the event to remain by Bindi’s side.
“She's just come out the other side of endometriosis and now the appendix goes,” Robert said. “Health is so important - it really is.”
Despite intense pain and discomfort, Bindi was initially determined to attend the event. “She came to Las Vegas and was ready to come to the gala, put on a brave face in a lot of discomfort and a lot of pain and said, ‘Nope, I’m just going to tough it out, I’m going to go for it,’” Robert recalled.
“But the surgeon said, ‘No, your appendix is going. That thing’s gotta come out.’ Health has to come first,” he said, adding: “She’s very sad. She’s devastated that she and Mom can’t be here, but I know she’ll make a speedy recovery.”
Just one day prior, Bindi had taken to Instagram to share her excitement about attending the gala.
She shared a picture with her family, with the caption: “Khaki by day - Bellagio chic by night! Here in #LasVegas for the #SteveIrwinGala raising funds and awareness for Wildlife Warriors. Supporting conservation and remembering Dad’s extraordinary legacy. Enormous gratitude to everyone for your support as we continue to do all that we can to protect wildlife and wild places for the future generations."
The emergency surgery marks yet another chapter in the conservationist's ongoing health journey.
Back in March 2023, she revealed her endometriosis diagnosis after more than a decade of suffering in silence.
Speaking on the A Life of Greatness podcast earlier this year, she shared: “The only people that knew that I was incredibly unwell... my husband, my mom, and my brother, and behind closed doors I was struggling to do anything and everything.”
She said she spent 10 years undiagnosed, often dismissed by doctors who attributed her symptoms to IBS, hormones, or simply being a woman.
“The symptoms continued to snowball, and it took me such a long time to find help and it’s a story that so many women and girls know all too well,” Bindi explained.
When she eventually underwent surgery for endometriosis, doctors found 37 lesions and a “chocolate cyst".
In a statement to fans at the time, Bindi penned: “Every part of my life was getting torn apart because of the pain. To cut a long story short, they found 37 lesions, some very deep and difficult to remove, a chocolate cyst.
"[The doctor's] first words to me when I was in recovery were, ‘How did you live with this much pain?’ Validation for years of pain is indescribable," she added.
In May this year, Bindi became the first international figure to receive the EndoFound Blossom Award at the 2024 Blossom Ball in New York City for her advocacy work on women’s health.
“Bindi has become an incredible advocate for women’s health, particularly, and I think it’s really important to prioritize getting help,” Robert said.
Though disappointed to miss the gala, Bindi's message remains clear: health must always come first.