"ironically" again

[Jonathan Lighter]

In describing the shocking death of Steve Irwin on Fox News this morning, an Australian journalist explained that he was killed by the poisonous barb of a stingray. She continued immediately:

  "Ironically, he was filming a documentary on the ocean's deadliest creatures."

  In context, this sentence needs no introductory modifier.  If one is desired, "indeed" or "as a matter of  fact" would be appropriate.  In other words, virtually the opposite of "ironically."

  Or is there "irony" in the idea of "filming"?  That is, we all know that TV shows are staged, contrived, and sensationalized. So of course filming the ocean's so-called "deadliest creatures" should be perfectly safe !

  But I don't believe that explanation.

  JL



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