Robert Irwin stuns fans with hilarious story on 'Jimmy Fallon Show'

Robert Irwin has revealed a heart-stopping moment he genuinely feared for his life.

The 22-year-old conservationist, son of the late wildlife legend Steve Irwin, says he was following techniques his father once taught him when the near-disaster unfolded.

Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Robert laughed as he recalled the chaotic encounter with the enormous reptile he himself had named after host Jimmy Fallon.

“I named this crocodile Jimmy Fallon years ago. He’s a boss croc, absolutely huge,” Robert said, while Fallon jokingly insisted the animal was simply “putting on a few pounds with age.”

But the mood quickly turned when the zookeeper described how routine conservation work suddenly went wrong.

“We have to get hands-on to study them in the wild. My dad came up with the method… you jump on them,” he explained. 

“So I jumped on Jimmy Fallon and he just rolled. Next thing I know I’m underneath him, arm stuck out, with what felt like hundreds of kilos on top of me. I’m thinking, ‘this is it.’”

The crocodile eventually rolled away, allowing Robert to scramble free.

He admitted he walked away shaken but unharmed.

“He’s a goer, that one,” he added with a grin.

Robert’s appearance came shortly after his win on Dancing With the Stars, where he lifted the trophy alongside pro partner Witney Carson. 

His success has now led to a new spin-off, Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, which will also feature links to Australia Zoo and possibly some surprise animal cameos.

He also teased crossover appearances involving wildlife from his family’s conservation park in Brisbane, where parts of the show were filmed.

The new series will premiere in the US this July, with veteran dancers including Mark Ballas and Shirley Ballas set to judge alongside the glitter and drama of the ballroom.

RELATED: Robert Irwin takes on new challenge in ‘DWTS’ season