Robert Irwin recalls near-fatal crocodile 'death roll' encounter
The conservationist described the moment as a terrifying close call with a massive reptile
Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin has revealed he feared for his life during a dangerous encounter with a massive crocodile that briefly trapped him in a “death roll” while conducting field research.
The 22-year-old, son of late conservation icon Steve Irwin, shared the story during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, explaining how the incident unfolded while working with a 317kg crocodile he had previously named “Jimmy Fallon.”
“I named this crocodile Jimmy Fallon years ago, and he’s now what we call a boss croc. He’s huge,” Irwin said, prompting a lighthearted exchange with host Jimmy Fallon, who joked about the reptile’s size.
Irwin went on to describe the high-risk research method used to study crocodiles in the wild—an approach pioneered by his father—which involves physically jumping onto the animal to safely restrain and examine it.
“I jumped on the back of Jimmy Fallon… and he death-rolled me,” Irwin said. “I’m stuck underneath him with my arm hanging out. I’ve got maybe 700 pounds on top of me, and I’m just thinking, ‘What do I do?’”
The situation escalated quickly as the crocodile spun, a natural defensive move known as a death roll. Irwin said he was only able to escape when the animal rolled back in the opposite direction, allowing him to break free.
“I was fine, but he’s a goer,” he added, describing the crocodile’s aggressive strength.
Despite the close call, Irwin continues his conservation work and remains committed to studying and protecting wildlife.
His appearance on the talk show comes shortly after his victory on Dancing With the Stars, where he won alongside professional dancer Witney Carson.
Following the win, it was announced that he will host a new spin-off series, Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, set to premiere in July in the United States.
The upcoming show will focus on discovering new professional dancers, and Irwin hinted that some of the filming took place at Australia Zoo in Brisbane, with possible appearances from animals housed at his family’s conservation park.