A fan’s artwork showing late conservationist Steve Irwin meeting his granddaughter Grace Warrior for the first time is going viral on TikTok.
Steve, known to millions around the world as the Crocodile Hunter, died in 2006 at the age of 44 and never got to see his daughter Bindi become a parent herself.
But a drawing by talented 23-year-old Michaela Hill shows the original Wildlife Warrior, clad in his Australia Zoo uniform, holding newborn Grace in his arms – offering a glimpse what might have been if Steve hadn’t died 15 years ago.
Bindi and her husband Chandler Powell welcomed Grace on March 25, and they have both said Steve’s absence has been deeply felt as they settle into family life.
Beautiful: A fan’s artwork showing late conservationist Steve Irwin meeting his granddaughter Grace Warrior for the first time is going viral on TikTok
Ms Hill’s stunning drawing has touched the hearts of many on TikTok, attracting more than 100,000 ‘loves’ on the platform as of Friday.
The artist also shared a time-lapse video of herself drawing the portrait, which she accompanied by audio of Steve talking about his love for his family.
‘Is there anything in this world that would want to make me give up what I’m doing now? Yes. Yes there is,’ Steve says.
‘When my children can take the football I call wildlife conservation and run it up. When they’re ready to run up our mission. I will gladly step aside.’
Bittersweet: Steve, known to millions around the world as the Crocodile Hunter, died in 2006 at the age of 44 and never got to see his daughter Bindi become a parent herself. He is pictured here with Bindi and wife Terri at a Hollywood premiere in 2002
Sadness and joy: Bindi and her husband Chandler Powell welcomed Grace on March 25, and they have both said Steve’s absence has been deeply felt as they settle into family life
Steve continues in the recording: ‘I guarantee you it will be the proudest moment of my life. And my job will be done like my mum and my dad.
‘Then and only then will I know I have achieved my ultimate goal to be able to stand aside and let them run my mission.’
Ms Hill said she wanted to present the artwork to Bindi, but it’s unclear if the Crikey! It’s the Irwins star is aware of it.
Touching: The drawing by talented 23-year-old Michaela Hill shows the original Wildlife Warrior, clad in his Australia Zoo uniform, holding newborn Grace in his arms – offering a glimpse what might have been if Steve hadn’t died 15 years ago
Earlier this week, Bindi wept as she spoke of how her daughter would never get to meet Steve in a trailer for Animal Planet special Crikey! It’s A Baby!
In the footage, Bindi – alongside her husband Chandler Powell, brother Robert and mother Terri – took baby Grace to visit Australia Zoo’s ‘Crocoseum’, where Steve would love to ‘feed the crocodiles and spend time as a family’.
Reflecting on the special moment, Bindi said: ‘It’s hard knowing she’ll never get to actually meet him, and it’s devastating as I’ll never get to watch that connection.
‘But I cannot wait to be able to tell beautiful Grace all of these stories about dad, and share with her what an amazing father he was.’
Heartache: Earlier this week, Bindi wept as she spoke of how her daughter would never get to meet Steve in a trailer for Animal Planet special Crikey! It’s A Baby!
Tribute: In the footage, Bindi – alongside her husband Chandler Powell, brother Robert and mother Terri – took baby Grace to visit Australia Zoo’s ‘Crocoseum’, where Steve would love to ‘feed the crocodiles and spend time as a family’
An emotional Bindi added: ‘It’s going to be really special. It’s going to be really special for her to know him, and tell her about what an amazing man he was.’
Through tears, she said out of ‘everyone in the world’ Steve would have ‘loved Grace the most’.
‘But I think in a way he is still with us and his heart and soul live on in all of us. He’s never really gone,’ she continued.
Steve died in September 2006 at the age of 44, after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming a wildlife documentary in Queensland.
Bindi was eight years old at the time and her brother Robert was just two. Steve’s widow has never remarried or even been on a date since her husband’s death.
Gone too soon: Steve died in September 2006 at the age of 44, after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming a wildlife documentary in Queensland. Bindi was eight years old at the time and her brother Robert was just two. Pictured in December 2003
Bindi and Chandler welcomed daughter Grace Warrior Irwin Powell on March 25.
The baby was born on their first wedding anniversary, one year after they tied the knot at Australia Zoo.
Grace’s middle names are a tribute to her late grandfather, who coined the term ‘Wildlife Warrior’ to promote his conservation efforts at the zoo.
The legacy continues: Bindi and Chandler welcomed daughter Grace Warrior Irwin Powell on March 25. Grace’s middle names are a tribute to her late grandfather, who coined the term ‘Wildlife Warrior’ to promote his conservation efforts at the zoo