Robert Irwin has opened up about a frightening wildlife encounter that left him trapped underneath a massive 14-foot crocodile, with approximately 700 pounds of reptile pressing down on him.
The 22-year-old conservationist, who is the son of the late Steve Irwin, revealed the incident during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Robert explained that the crocodile had been named after the talk show host years earlier, when the animal was considerably smaller.
But after growing into a powerful adult crocodile, the animal gave Robert an experience he would never forget.
What does a crocodile's 'death roll' actually mean?
A crocodile's death roll is a powerful spinning manoeuvre in which the animal rotates its body rapidly, often while gripping prey or another object in its jaws.
The movement helps crocodiles overpower prey, break pieces of food apart and sometimes tear flesh from animals that are too large to swallow whole.
Crocodiles have extremely powerful jaws but are not equipped to chew food in the same way humans do.
Instead, they can use their body weight and rotational force to twist and separate pieces of prey.
During a typical death roll, a crocodile grips something firmly and rotates along the length of its body, generating considerable twisting force.
The manoeuvre can be extremely dangerous to people because of the animal's strength, size and ability to maintain its grip.
However, crocodiles can also perform rolling movements during handling or restraint without necessarily having an object in their jaws.
In Robert's case, he described being rolled underneath the animal after jumping onto its back.
His account does not establish that the crocodile had bitten him, meaning the incident should not automatically be interpreted as a typical prey-gripping death roll.
What happened to Robert Irwin during the crocodile encounter?
Robert shared the story while discussing his family's work researching crocodiles in the wild.
He explained that conservation researchers sometimes need to physically restrain crocodiles so they can gather information and better understand the animals.
According to Robert, he jumped onto the back of the enormous crocodile during one such encounter.
But the animal reacted by rolling, leaving him trapped underneath its considerable weight.
The crocodile was approximately 14 feet long and weighed an estimated 700 pounds.
Robert recalled finding himself underneath the animal with his arm extending out from beneath its body.
For a moment, he was unsure how to respond.
Fortunately, the crocodile rolled in the opposite direction, allowing him to escape.
Robert said he emerged unharmed from the frightening experience.
Why did Robert Irwin name the crocodile Jimmy Fallon?
One of the more unusual details of the story is the crocodile's name.
Robert explained that he had named the animal Jimmy Fallon years earlier, when it was still young.
During his appearance on Fallon's talk show, he joked that the crocodile was no longer a baby.
The animal had since grown into what Robert described as a 'boss croc', a term he used to emphasise its enormous size and powerful presence.
The story prompted a particularly memorable exchange because Robert was describing an encounter with a crocodile named after the person interviewing him.
Despite the humorous connection, the physical encounter itself had been genuinely dangerous.
Why does Robert Irwin work so closely with dangerous crocodiles?
Robert has spent much of his life working with wildlife as part of his family's conservation mission.
His father, Steve Irwin, became internationally famous for his enthusiasm for crocodiles and other animals.
Steve helped develop methods for studying crocodiles that allowed researchers to collect information about their behaviour, movements and conservation needs.
Robert explained that some of this work requires researchers to get close enough to safely restrain the animals.
Such work involves considerable risk and is undertaken by experienced wildlife professionals using specialist techniques.
Robert's encounter illustrates how unpredictable large wild animals can be, even for people who have spent years working with them.
How did Steve Irwin die?
Robert's experience has also brought renewed attention to the tragic death of his father.
Steve Irwin, widely known as the Crocodile Hunter, died in September 2006 at the age of 44.
He was filming a wildlife documentary near Australia's Great Barrier Reef when a stingray struck him in the chest.
The stingray's barb caused a fatal injury to his heart.
Robert was just two years old at the time, while his older sister Bindi was eight.
Steve's death shocked people around the world, particularly those who had followed his television programmes and wildlife conservation work.
His wife Terri and their children subsequently continued his mission through Australia Zoo and other conservation initiatives.
How has Robert Irwin continued his father's legacy?
Robert has become a prominent wildlife conservationist, television personality and public advocate for protecting animals.
He regularly shares his experiences working with wildlife and has spoken about the importance of continuing the mission his parents established.
In an Instagram tribute, Robert described carrying on his father's legacy as one of the greatest honours of his life.
He has also emphasised that his work with animals is motivated by conservation rather than simply entertainment.
Through his public appearances, Robert aims to encourage younger generations to develop an interest in wildlife and environmental protection.
His work remains closely connected to Australia Zoo in Queensland, which his family operates.
Robert Irwin also won Dancing with the Stars
Alongside his wildlife career, Robert has become increasingly well known in entertainment.
In 2025, he competed on the American television programme Dancing with the Stars.
Partnered with professional dancer Witney Carson, Robert went on to win the competition.
His victory followed in the footsteps of his older sister Bindi, who won the show's 21st season in 2015.
Robert subsequently spoke about how meaningful the support from American audiences had been.
He explained that his participation in the competition represented more than a personal achievement, as it also allowed him to promote the conservation values associated with his family.
Did Robert Irwin suffer any injuries during the crocodile incident?
According to Robert's account, he escaped without serious injury.
He explained that the crocodile eventually rolled back in the opposite direction, allowing him to get out from underneath it.
Although he described the encounter as frightening, he was able to recount the experience with humour during his television appearance.
The story nevertheless demonstrates the immense physical power of large crocodiles.
Even without a bite, being trapped beneath an animal of that size can present significant danger.
Robert has continued his conservation work and public appearances since the incident.
Why are crocodile death rolls so dangerous?
The danger of a death roll comes from the combination of a crocodile's powerful grip and its ability to rotate its body rapidly.
When a crocodile grips prey and begins spinning, the resulting force can cause severe injuries.
The movement can also destabilise or pull prey into water, where drowning becomes an additional danger.
Large crocodiles are particularly formidable because their body mass adds to the forces involved.
However, the precise circumstances of Robert's encounter differ from a typical attack involving a crocodile gripping prey in its jaws.
His description centred on the animal rolling while he was positioned on its back, rather than on being bitten.
Fortunately, the crocodile's movement ultimately allowed him to escape safely.
The encounter serves as a reminder that even experienced conservationists must treat large wild animals with considerable caution and respect.
Source: Fox News Digital, May 10, 2026, reporting Robert Irwin's appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
