Robert Irwin’s Year Started With A Bang—or Should We Say, A Burst Appendix?

Sain April 21, 2025

Hey there, friends! Let me tell you a story about Robert Irwin, the incredible wildlife photographer who’s been making waves on social media. This year didn’t exactly start off smoothly for him. Just a few days into 2018, the 14-year-old found himself in the hospital getting emergency surgery to remove his appendix. Yikes! Now, if you’ve ever experienced something like this, you know it’s not exactly a walk in the park. But Robert seems to be handling it like a champ, sharing updates and photos on Instagram to keep his fans in the loop.

Appendix Drama: Robert Irwin’s Hospital Visit

Robert, son of the legendary Steve Irwin, posted a lighthearted update on Instagram about his unexpected health scare. He joked about his “pesky appendix” causing trouble, but the reality is that an appendectomy, while common, can still pack quite the punch. Fans flooded his page with messages of support, with one person commenting, “My heart literally stopped for a second, get better soon.” It’s clear that Robert has a huge fan base cheering him on during this recovery period. As for his rumored girlfriend, Tess Poyner, there’s been no official word on whether she’s visited him at the hospital yet. But hey, we’re sure she’ll show up soon!

Who Is Tess Poyner?

Tess Poyner, also 14, is another rising star in the world of wildlife photography. She and Robert first crossed paths at the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year awards just a few months ago. Since then, they’ve stayed in touch, bonding over their shared love for nature. Back in September, Robert even extended an invitation to Tess to spend a week at Australia Zoo, following in the footsteps of his sister Bindi Irwin, who famously invited her now-boyfriend Chandler Powell to stay there. Talk about sibling solidarity!

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The Irwin Family’s New Adventures

While Robert recovers, the rest of the Irwin clan is busy preparing for the return of their hit TV show on Animal Planet. Bindi Irwin, Robert’s sister, shared some exciting news about the upcoming season, saying, “We have wonderful new adventures coming to your television screen.” Their mom, Terri Irwin, added, “It all started in 1996 with The Crocodile Hunter, and now the Irwin family is back.” Fans are eagerly anticipating the series, which promises to deliver the same sense of adventure and authenticity that the late Steve Irwin was known for. One commenter summed up the sentiment perfectly: “Been waiting since you guys were still small for you to grow up and bring us only what the Irwin family can bring us! Miss your dad so so much.”

View this post on Instagram
Kicking off the new year with emergency surgery. I’m recovering well and feeling so much better without my pesky appendix! 😂
A post shared by Robert Irwin (@robertirwinphotography) on Jan 11, 2018 at 1:15pm PST

With the Irwin family’s new TV show set to premiere later this year, it’s safe to say that Robert will be back in action before long. Whether he’s exploring the great outdoors or recovering from surgery, one thing’s for sure: this young man is full of grit, determination, and a whole lot of heart.

This post was written by Kate Wagner. It originally appeared on our sister site, Now to Love.