It is extremely rare for someone to be killed by a stingray. I believe there are only 4 recorded fatalities by rays including Erwin. The last one was back in 1945 or something. There are some places where tourist pay to swim with stingrays. I think Ol' Steve just used up all his luck whist playing with the really nasty critters. It was such a freak accident, akin to a professional skydiver falling off a kitchen chair and breaking his neck while changing a light bulb in a ceiling fixture. Go figure.