How old was Robert Irwin when his father Steve died? Details explored as he reveals his 2 good luck charms before every DWTS performance

Robert Irwin was only two years old when his father, Steve Irwin, passed away. The Australian zookeeper, whose full name is Stephen Robert Irwin, died in 2006 after he was stung by a short-tail stingray barb in the chest. The sting pierced his thoracic wall and caused massive trauma. The fatal incident occurred while he was filming at The Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia.

Robert Irwin is currently competing on the reality dancing competition show, Dancing With The Stars. He and his dance partner, Whitney Carson, are among the five couples who have made it to the finale.

During an interview with PEOPLE, Irwin mentioned how his late father is "still part of every day." He said:

"... a little part of him back in some way, in every conversation I have about him, or any new story I hear about him, or in any new photo that I haven't seen before... I'll often come across archive footage that I haven't seen before, and all of a sudden, his memory just starts flooding back. So it's weird that decades later, after losing someone when I was 2 years old, I almost have an even greater picture of the person he was."

What "good luck charms" does Robert Irwin have while competing on Dancing With The Stars

Irwin spoke to PEOPLE magazine, revealing how he tries to keep his family close every step of the way in his life, including during his Dancing With The Stars journey. He shared two "good luck charms" he has been keeping with him ever since the beginning of the show on his official Instagram account.

He began by saying:

"Every show day on Dancing with the Stars, I have two good luck charms that I bring with me. And I wanted to share it with you." According to the 21-year-old wildlife photographer, having the two items make him feel "close to home and what's most important to me."

He pointed out that the two items include the ring he was wearing on his middle finger, and the blue shirt he was wearing, which was his late father's shirt.

Robert Irwin continued to explain:

"This is my dad's shirt. I was going through his stuff and I found this shirt. It's absolutely tattered and had holes and all sorts in it, missing buttons. So I went and got it all fixed up. New buttons attached. Everything all patched back up again and all the holes repaired. Kind of got it back up to scratch. And I like that it still looks and feels like him."

He elaborated why the shirt was important to him, and despite its wear and tear, it acts as a symbol for him.

"Each one of the tears and holes and missing buttons tells another story. And this shirt definitely saw a lot. I guess it's a good example for how dad lived his life: At 100%"

He revealed another wholesome fact about himself, saying:

"Before you guys see my dance in costume, I've always done that dance — at least once — in dad's shirt. It just keeps me close to home, keeps me close to him... It just feels like a big hug every time I put it on... Every time I step out into the ballroom, I represent my message, my dad's legacy, my home, my family. It is such an honor to get to do that."

As for the ring, Robert Irwin revealed that he found a set of keys while cleaning his dad's office, and decided to turn them into a ring. It has an engraving on it, "1638" representing the address Australia Zoo, 1638 Steve Irwin Way.

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Robert Irwin keeps his father's memory close as he competes on Dancing With The Stars. He revealed the two items that remind him of home and of Steve Irwin's legacy. These include his father's restored blue shirt and a ring made from keys found in Steve's office. They help him feel supported every time he steps on stage.

Also Read: How did Robert Irwin react to Prince William’s surprise Dancing With the Stars appearance? Details explored

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