Why did the sting ray kill Steve Irwin?

Steve Irwin was killed by a stingray during a diving expedition when he was pierced in the chest by its venomous barb. The incident occurred while he was filming a documentary in shallow waters off the Great Barrier Reef. While stingrays are generally not aggressive, Irwin inadvertently provoked the animal, leading to the fatal injury. The stingray's defensive response ultimately resulted in Irwin's tragic death.