'You're literally the animal that killed Steve Irwin’: Baseball team Miami Marlins apologises for Tampa Bay Rays taunt

'Like everyone who grew up watching him, we miss Steve,' says team

Steve Irwin poses with a three-foot-long alligator at the San Francisco Zoo on 26 June, 2002 in San Francisco, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The Miami Marlins have apologised after using Steve Irwin‘s death to taunt their MLB rivals the Tampa Bay Rays.

Both teams were engaged in a humorous exchange on Twitter, gently ribbing each other, when the account for the Miami Marlins wrote in direction of the Tampa Bay Rays: ”YOU’RE LITERALLY THE ANIMAL THAT KILLED STEVE IRWIN LOG OFF”

Irwin, the Australian TV personality, conservationist and star of The Crocodile Hunter, died in September 2006 aged 44 after being stabbed by a ray.

Some denounced the Miami Marlins’ tweet, deeming it in “bad taste” and “despicable”.

The team responded to the backlash on their account, writing: ”Hi, guys. Like everyone who grew up watching him, we miss Steve. We’re so sorry to have made light of his passing.”

According to Miami radio host Andy Slater, a spokesman for the team further apologised, stating: “This was a regrettable exchange by our otherwise creative social media team.

“Unfortunately, in this medium, sometimes we swing and miss, and this was definitely a miss.”

The spokesman said the matter had been addressed internally, per Slater.

The Independent has contacted a Miami Marlins representative for comment.