Irwin's protector to the stars
By Dave Donaghy

November 29, 2006 12:00


THE marine expert who was with Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin when he died has been enlisted to keep Hollywood stars safe during the filming of a movie off far north Queensland.

Leading marine researcher Dr Jamie Seymour has been handed the job of protecting Hollywood A-listers Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson from deadly box jellyfish.

McConaughey and Hudson have teamed up for the first time since 2003 to film Fool's Gold, with shooting currently underway at Low Isles, off Port Douglas.

Dr Seymour said his role would be to determine the likelihood of whether box jellyfish would be in the water.

He said there was a great mood on set.

"We haven't seen any whales out here yet but, as I say, there was a big school of fish just chewing things here,'' Dr Seymour today told ABC Radio.

"There were some giant trevallies and stuff at the back of the boat yesterday.

"I mean, it's heaven out here at the moment. These guys are having a ball, they really are.

"It's a tough life but somebody's got to do it.''

Dr Seymour was on Irwin's boat Croc One when the world-famous conservationist died after being stabbed in the heart by a stingray barb while filming on the Great Barrier Reef on September 4.

He is widely regarded as one of the world's leading jellyfish researchers.

It's the first time McConaughey and Hudson have teamed together since the hit romantic comedy How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

McConaughey has been living it up since filming began, with regular sightings at both far north Queensland and Gold Coast nightspots.

He shouted drinks at a Port Douglas bar earlier this month while celebrating his 37th birthday with friends and co-stars