Pregnant Bindi Irwin leads tributes to dad Steve on 14th anniversary of death

Pregnant Bindi Irwin has paid tribute to her late father on the fourteenth anniversary of his tragic death.

The 22-year-old conservationist – who announced last month that she is expecting her first child with husband Chandler Powell – shared a throwback photo of herself with her late father on social media.

Australian wildlife expert Steve Irwin tragically died aged 44 on 4 September 2006 when his heart was pierced by the tail of a stingray while he was filming on the Great Barrier Reef, causing him to bleed to death.

Marking the sad anniversary, Bindi shared photo of herself as a child with her father along with the caption: “You’re always in my heart.”

Bindi’s 16-year-old brother, Robert, shared the image on his Instagram stories, adding a hear emoji above the photo of his late father and his sister.

The surviving Irwin family, including Steve’s wife Terri, continue to keep his legacy alive by running Australia Zoo in Beerwah, Queensland, which was opened in 1970 by Steve’s parents, Bob and Lyn Irwin.

The family also star in American reality TV show, Crikey! It’s the Irwins which airs on Animal Planet – and the show features archive footage of Steve.

Bindi tied-the-knot with professional wakeboarder Chandler, 23, in a ceremony in March.

Steve was honoured on the day as a candle was lit for him and a photo of him with his favourite dog, Sue, was put on display.

Bindi gushed to Entertainment Tonight in May: “I love that photo so much. It’s probably one of my favorite photos we have of him because he is with his beautiful dog, Sue.

“My middle name Sue, I was named after the family dog. Suey will always hold a special place in my heart and growing up she was one of the very first animals I loved… I love that photograph because it symbolizes everyone who could not be there with us on that day.”

She also explained why she wouldn’t be taking her husband’s last name, Powell, following their nuptials.

She said: “I’ve kept Bindi Irwin. I think that for me personally, after dad passed away it was really important for me to feel close to him, and having his last name means so much to me.”