Robert Irwin Reveals He Survived Being Death-Rolled by 14-Foot Crocodile Named 'Jimmy Fallon'
Robert Irwin Reveals He Survived Being Death-Rolled by 14-Foot Crocodile Named 'Jimmy Fallon'
Escher WalcottWed, May 6, 2026 at 10:26 AM UTC
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Robert Irwin; Jimmy FallonCredit: Cindy Ord/Getty; Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty -
Robert Irwin revealed on The Tonight Show that he was “death-rolled” by his 14-foot pet crocodile, who is named Jimmy Fallon
The Dancing with the Stars winner, 22, said the encounter happened while researching crocodile conservation methods inspired by his late father, Steve Irwin
"So I'm stuck underneath him with my arm hanging out, I've got probably … 700 pounds on top of me," said Robert
Robert Irwin narrowly escaped death during an encounter with a crocodile.
While appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday, May 5, the Dancing with the Stars season 34 winner, 22, revealed that he was “death-rolled” by his pet baby crocodile — named after the show's host Jimmy Fallon — back in his hometown of Australia.
“You know what? He's not a baby anymore,” Robert said. “I named this crocodile Jimmy Fallon years ago and he's now what we call a ‘Boss croc' — he's huge.”
Robert explained that the scary encounter occurred while he was researching how to “better conserve” wild crocodiles and came upon a risky method pioneered by his late father, conservationist Steve Irwin, who died in 2006.
Jimmy Fallon and Robert IrwinCredit: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty
“So the way you do that — my dad came up with this — is that you actually have to jump on them,” he told a shocked Fallon, 51. “So I jumped on the back of [my crocodile] Jimmy Fallon and get this — he death-rolled me.”
“I jumped onto him, I kid you not, 14 feet of crocodile … death-rolls me,” Robert recalled. “So I'm stuck underneath him with my arm hanging out, I've got probably … 700 pounds on top of me, and I'm just like, ‘What do I do?' ”
Despite the frightening incident, the DWTS trophy winner said he was somehow able to survive the ordeal.
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“Luckily, he rolled back the other way, and I was fine,” said Robert, adding, “But he's a goer, Jimmy!”
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Robert IrwinCredit: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty
Earlier on the show, Robert spoke about his emotional DWTS performance to "You'll Be in My Heart," in honor of his mother, Terri Irwin, while reflecting on his time on season 34.
“This was like a turning point for me with this show," he recalled of the October dance. "It was the first time I really told kind of my journey of grief and the way that she helped me through that,” Robert said, touching on how his mom helped him after his dad Steve's death.
“…To use your body as this expression of self, to share such a deeply personal story through the lens of gratitude for my mom — that's when I realized dances, it's storytelling that's all it is,” he added.
Steve died at the age of 44 after being attacked by a stingray while filming in the Batt Reef off the coast of Australia on Sept. 4, 2006.
Fans can next see Robert hosting DWTS spinoff Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro in July.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
