EXCLUSIVE: 'He hasn't had anything to do with us for a long time': Bindi Irwin reveals her heartbreak over the widening rift with grandfather Bob - and how he even sent back birthday presents

By Alicia Vrajlal and Jason Chester For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

Bindi Irwin has responded to claims of a widening rift with paternal grandfather Bob following the tragic death of her conservationist father. 

The 17-year old spoke out following reports of an increasingly strained relationship with Bob, who has previously reflected on his struggle to cope after son Steve Irwin was fatally struck by a stingray in 2006.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at the 5th annual AACTA Awards on Wednesday evening, Bindi claims her grandfather became reclusive in the years following his death. 

See more Dancing With The Stars news on winner Bindi Irwin 

Speaking out: Bindi Irwin has responded to claims of a widening rift with paternal grandfather Bob following the tragic death of her conservationist father 

Speaking out: Bindi Irwin has responded to claims of a widening rift with paternal grandfather Bob following the tragic death of her conservationist father 

'Everyone deals with grief differently,' she said. 'When my dad passed away he chose to distance himself from everything that dad loved the most. 

'At the moment we’re really just respecting his wishes because he hasn’t had anything to do with us for a long time and he decided his own path. That’s important so good for him.'

Bindi claims her grandfather, who still operates the Bob Irwin Wildlife & Conservation Foundation having retired from Australia Zoo in 1992, has even rejected well meaning gifts from the family.

'There was one year where we sent birthday presents to him and he opened them up and he sent them back,' she recalled. 

Grief-stricken: Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at the 5th annual AACTA Awards on Wednesday evening, Bindi claims her grandfather (pictured) became reclusive in the years following his death 

Grief-stricken: Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at the 5th annual AACTA Awards on Wednesday evening, Bindi claims her grandfather (pictured) became reclusive in the years following his death 

'With things like that you realise that people need to deal with grief how they need to deal with grief and as long as it doesn’t hurt yourself or hurt those around you then that’s the way to go.' 

Bob has previously told the Herald Sun that he is not on speaking terms with his grandchildren.

Though he did not going into the finer details, the 76-year-old said that he is still proud of what his 17-year-old granddaughter has achieved. 

'It’s sad but it’s just the way things are,' he said.

Together: Bob poses for a rare photograph with Bindi, brother Robert and Terri Irwin in 2007 

Together: Bob poses for a rare photograph with Bindi, brother Robert and Terri Irwin in 2007 

When asked if his late son would have wanted for the family to reunite, he replied: 'Yes he would probably, but life's a b**** sometimes.' 

Speaking to Australian Story in May, Bob admitted to developing coping mechanisms in a bid to help him deal with the loss of his son. 

'Once we lost Steve those were difficult times and a lot of it all I wanted to forget, I suppose,' he said.

'I basically buried myself in physical work, I didn't want anything to do with people. I had things to get sorted out in my own head and that took a long time to get those sorted out.

'I didn't want to be like a hermit because that wasn't doing me any good.' 

Old times: Steve Irwin was fatally injured after being struck by a stingray in 2006 

Old times: Steve Irwin was fatally injured after being struck by a stingray in 2006 

 

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