Bob Irwin’s autobiography The Last Crocodile Hunter: A Father and Son Legacy, has officially hit the selves.
The 77-year-old launched his new memoir in Sydney yesterday and was overcome with emotion when speaking about Steve Irwin.
“We were very close, Steve and I. We were way past father and son. We went way beyond that,” Bob explained of his endless grief.
“There isn’t a day that goes past that I don’t reflect at some stage on the times we had. We may learn to adjust but I will never get over it.”
The passionate conservationist also revealed he penned the tome in the hopes his estranged grandchild Bindi and Bob Irwin may get the chance to read it.
Bob says he hopes his estranged grandchildren Bob and Bindi will read his book.
“[Bindi and Robert] will grow up and they might come to understand me better for my having written this book,” he mused.
“A lot of things that happen over the years you tend to keep private. People don’t know what you think. My view of conservation I wanted to get across while I still can for future generations.”
Speaking of his falling out with Steve’s wife Terri Irwin and subsequently her two children, Bob reflected: “That’s life.”
WATCH: Get to know Bob Irwin. Post continues after the video…
“[Bindi and Robert] will grow up and they might come to understand me better for my having written this book,” Bob said at the book launch.
Last year, Bindi addressed her family’s rumoured rift with Robert Irwin senior.
“Everyone deals with grief differently. When my dad passed away he chose to distance himself from everything that dad loved the most,” the dancing champ told The Daily Mail Australia.
“At the moment we’re really just respecting his wishes because he hasn’t had anything to do with us for a long time and he decided his own path. That’s important so good for him,” she added.
Meanwhile heartbreaking revelations from Bob’s book about the final time he saw his son have come to light.
“You never expect that’s the last time you’re ever going to see your son, but I certainly had a feeling he sensed something was about to happen,” Bob pens.
According to the book, Steve had confided to his father that the physical aspect of his job was taking its toll and he’d “almost reached his used-by date.”
The 77-year-old says Steve wanted to step back from his career to spend more time with his young family.
Bob says his son had plans to step back from his high-profile career so he could spend more time with his young children.
The two men said their last goodbye with a handshake as Steve set off on his trip to Batt Reef near Port Douglas, Queensland.
When Bob found out about his son’s tragic death from a sting ray’s barb, the pain was immeasurable.
“It’s incomprehensible to wake up without a care in the world and go about your day, as carefree as normal, and then get a life-altering phone call like that,” he explained.
“Steve was my everything. My friend. My strength. My mirror image.”
