Bindi Irwin Misses Annual Steve Irwin Gala Due to Unexpected Medical Emergency: ‘Health Has to Come First,’ Brother Robert Says

Bindi Irwin was forced to miss the annual Steve Irwin Gala this year, with her brother Robert Irwin revealing that she is in the midst of a health emergency.

At the event in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 10, Robert, 21, shared that his older sister, 26, was undergoing surgery after her appendix ruptured.

“She’s going to be OK, but surgery — out of all the things we were ready for, that was not one of them,” Robert exclusively tells PEOPLE, adding that their mother, Terri Irwin, 60, would also be missing the gala — held in honor of late crocodile hunter Steve Irwin — to help Bindi during her recovery.

“She’s just come out the other side of endometriosis and now the appendix goes,” the Crikey! It’s the Irwins star continues, adding, “Health is so important — it really is.”

“Bindi has become an incredible advocate for women’s health, particularly, and I think it’s really important to prioritize getting help,” Robert tells PEOPLE of his elder sister.

Bindi first revealed her endometriosis diagnosis on Instagram in March 2023, before opening up in more detail about her health journey in a PEOPLE cover story in August that year. The following May, Bindi became the first international figure to receive the 2024 EndoFound Blossom Award at EndoFound’s 12th Annual Blossom Ball in New York City.

Robert tells PEOPLE that Bindi was initially determined to still come to Saturday’s gala.
“She came to Las Vegas and was ready to come to the gala, put on a brave face in a lot of discomfort and a lot of pain and said, ‘Nope, I’m just going to tough it out, I’m going to go for it,’ ” Robert says. “But the surgeon said, ‘No, your appendix is going. That thing’s gotta come out.’ Health has to come first.”

“She’s very sad. She’s devastated that she and Mom can’t be here, but I know she’ll make a speedy recovery,” he adds.

According to the Mayo Clinic, appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix that often results in a patient needing to have their appendix surgically removed. A burst appendix, also called a ruptured appendix, spreads infection throughout the abdomen and can sometimes be life-threatening.

Just one day prior to the gala, Bindi shared new photos on Instagram of herself with her mom and brother in Las Vegas as they prepared to attend the gala in honor of her late father.

“Khaki by day — Bellagio chic by night! ✨ Here in #LasVegas for the #SteveIrwinGala raising funds and awareness for Wildlife Warriors,” Bindi, 26, wrote in the caption. “Supporting conservation and remembering Dad’s extraordinary legacy. Enormous gratitude to everyone for your support as we continue to do all that we can to protect wildlife and wild places for the future generations.”
Back in February, Bindi gave another update on her health after more than 10 years of “being really, really sick” before she was diagnosed with endometriosis.

While speaking on the Feb. 3 episode of the A Life of Greatness podcast with host Sarah Grynberg, she recalled dealing with hidden health issues for more than a decade.

“The only people that knew that I was incredibly unwell … my husband, my mom and my brother, and behind closed doors I was struggling to do anything and everything,” Bindi said at the time, referencing her mom, brother and husband Chandler Powell, 28, with whom she shares 3-year-old daughter Grace.

She said endometriosis “is an enormous problem for so many people and it’s not being talked about a lot.”

“I went for 10 years undiagnosed because doctors really didn’t know enough, they diagnosed me with a million other things, like IBS, or hormones or ‘It’s just part of being a woman,’ ” she shared. “The symptoms continued to snowball, and it took me such a long time to find help and it’s a story that so many women and girls know all too well.”

Elsewhere in the podcast conversation, Bindi said: “I’m so grateful to be on the other side of surgery. There’s no cure for endometriosis, but if you’re able to get surgery you have a better shot at life. Maybe in five of 10 years, I’ll have to get another surgery, but for now, it’s all gone, which I’m very grateful for.”