An emotional Robert Irwin fights back tears as he pays tribute to his late father Steve

Robert Irwin fought back tears as he paid tribute to his late father Steve during a live interview on the Australian Today show on Friday morning.

The 18-year-old became emotional when host Karl Stefanovic referenced a viral TikTok video Robert had posted in honour of Father’s Day in the U.S.

With tears welling up in his eyes, Robert described the legendary Crocodile Hunter as a ‘superhero’ and ‘the greatest dad on the planet’.

An emotional Robert Irwin (pictured) fought back tears as he paid tribute to his late father Steve during a live interview on the Australian Today show on Friday morning 

The TikTok video included family home videos recorded before Steve died in 2006, when Robert was just two years old.

Robert said of compiling the footage: ‘It was amazing. [It was] very, very emotional, even just looking through the old archives to find that footage.

‘It’s amazing for me because every time I see a piece of footage or a photo I haven’t seen before, I get a story about dad someone tells me… it gives me a little piece of him back.’

He became emotional when host Karl Stefanovic referenced a viral TikTok video Robert had posted in honour of Father's Day in the U.S. (Robert is pictured as a toddler with his father)

The 18-year-old became emotional when host Karl Stefanovic referenced a viral video Robert had posted in honour of Father’s Day in the U.S. (Robert is pictured as a toddler with his father)

Robert continued: ‘It means the absolute world. He was a superhero in every aspect of the word. He was the greatest dad on the planet and it’s the honour of my life to continue everything that he’s started. Absolutely.’

Using Ed Sheeran’s song Photograph as a soundtrack, the video captured the special father-and-son bond between Steve and Robert.

One clip saw the Australian conservationist gazing down at his boy as a newborn.

Robert said of compiling the footage: 'It's amazing for me because every time I see a piece of footage or a photo I haven't seen before, I get a story about dad someone tells me... it gives me a little piece of him back'

Robert said of compiling the footage: ‘It’s amazing for me because every time I see a piece of footage or a photo I haven’t seen before, I get a story about dad someone tells me… it gives me a little piece of him back’ 

In another, Steve could be seen giving Robert a piggyback ride on his shoulders.

Also featured in the video was Bindi, now 23, Robert’s older sister.

‘Thinking of him and remembering nothing but fun times,’ Robert said in his post.

Using Ed Sheeran's song Photograph as a soundtrack, the video captured the special father-and-son bond between Steve and Robert

Using Ed Sheeran’s song Photograph as a soundtrack, the video captured the special father-and-son bond between Steve and Robert 

The montage, posted in honour of Father's Day in the U.S., included family home videos recorded before Steve died in 2006 when Robert was just two years old

The montage, posted in honour of Father’s Day in the U.S., included family home videos recorded before Steve died in 2006 when Robert was just two years old

One clip saw the Australian conservationist gazing down at his boy as a newborn

One clip saw the Australian conservationist gazing down at his boy as a newborn

Also featured in the video was Bindi, now 23, Robert's older sister

Also featured in the video was Bindi, now 23, Robert’s older sister 

‘I hope you all had a wonderful Father’s Day in the U.S., sending love to those who couldn’t celebrate with their dad.’ 

Steve, known to millions around the world as ‘the Crocodile Hunter’, died on September 4, 2006, at the age of 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray while filming a documentary in Batt Reef, Queensland.

Following his death, Steve’s family, including his children Robert and Bindi, widow Terri, and son-in-law Chandler Powell, have continued his conservation work at Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast. 

Steve Irwin (pictured with wife Terri), known to millions around the world as 'the Crocodile Hunter', died on September 4, 2006, at the age of 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray while filming a documentary in Batt Reef, Queensland

Steve Irwin (pictured with wife Terri), known to millions around the world as ‘the Crocodile Hunter’, died on September 4, 2006, at the age of 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray while filming a documentary in Batt Reef, Queensland

Following his death, Steve's family, including his children Robert (right) and Bindi (second from left), widow Terri (second from right), and son-in-law Chandler Powell, (left) have continued his conservation work at Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast

Following his death, Steve’s family, including his children Robert (right) and Bindi (second from left), widow Terri (second from right), and son-in-law Chandler Powell, (left) have continued his conservation work at Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast 

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