Bindi Irwin Misses Annual Steve Irwin Gala After Medical Emergency

Bindi Irwin was unable to make an appearance at an annual event honoring her late father after suffering a health emergency.

The 26-year-old’s brother Robert Irwin explained that his sister could not attend the annual Steve Irwin Gala—celebrating the Crocodile Hunter’s life and legacy 18 years after his death—because she was undergoing surgery after her appendix ruptured.

“She’s going to be OK,” Robert told People at the May 10 event in Las Vegas, “but surgery, out of all the things we were ready for, that was not one of them.”

Bindi had already traveled to the city—and posted photos of herself standing with Robert and their mom Terri Irwin by the Bellagio resort’s fountains on Instagram May 9—before the decision was made to undergo the operation and miss the event.

“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 said, “But the surgeon said, ‘No, your appendix is going. That thing’s gotta come out.'”