Robert Irwin has broken down in tears at Australia Zoo after receiving a 19th birthday message from his late dad Steve. We're not crying, you are!
The beloved crocodile hunter tragically died in 2006 after being pierced in the heart by a stingray barb while filming a documentary called Ocean's Deadliest in Queensland's Great Barrier Reef, per Discovery.
He had reportedly been snorkeling during a break in filming, hoping to get some footage for his daughter Bindi's show Bindi the Jungle Girl. He was just 44.
Sadly, both Bindi and Robert have had to grow up in the public eye without their father - meaning he has missed out on major milestones including the birth of Bindi's first child, Grace Warrior, with US wakeboarding champion Chandler Powell.
Though, the late wildlife warrior made a heartwarming appearance via video for his son Robert's 19th birthday, which he celebrated at Australia Zoo on December 1. The video was a sweet compilation from various famous Aussie faces - including kids group The Wiggles (complete with Captain Feathersword), Indigenous-Australian singer Christine Anu, dancer and musician Lukas Wildrok, and stunt performers Nitro Circus, among numerous others.
The most tear-jerking clip, however, was a throwback video of Steve at Australia Zoo talking about a then-newborn baby Robert, who is being held by mom Terri.
"Hey, how's this," he says in the clip, "I'm at the hospital, and Terri's pushing and pushing, and it's hard. And anyway bang, pop him out, and I've lifted him up and he's a little bloke. And I put him on Terri's chest and we're just stoked. And at that moment, at that very moment, I saw the light."
"The whole time, you're here, you know I'm catching crocs, I'm saving wildlife, I'm doing this and I'm doing that - but when Bindi was born I had the same sensation. Now, with little Bob, same sensation. It's like, this is why I was put here, because I could be dead tomorrow. So I need these blokes to come up here as quick as they can, so, this little bloke's gonna have to catch the crocs with Bindi," he continues.
"When they're ready to run up our mission I will gladly step aside. Then, and only then, will I know that I have achieved my ultimate goal and my job will be done. And I guarantee you it will be the proudest moment of my life," the video concludes.
Robert and Terri both clap, as the audience at the zoo gives a round of applause. Robert then adds that it's such a "privilege" to continue the family's "legacy" in wildlife protection.
Both Robert and Bindi have continued to work with their mother at Australia Zoo, where he took over the activities that Steve originally did, including wrestling crocodiles and handling snakes.