Was Steve Irwin's Death A Freak Occurrence?

All over the news there was talk about the 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin's death and how it was such a freak accident for a stingray to attack and kill him. But was it that much of a freak occurrence?

Just yesterday, 81 year old James Bertakis was boating with his granddaughter and her friend when suddenly a 5 foot stingray jumped on board his boat and stabbed him in the chest. But even more random, the stinger almost pierced his chest. He is still undergoing surgery due to a closed chest wound and collapsed lung. There is no word what the outcome is yet.

"Ellen Pikitch, a professor of marine biology and fisheries at the University of Miami, who has been studying stingrays for decades, said the fish are generally docile creatures."

So what is making these "docile" creatures attack lately?