Robert Irwin’s Family Begging Him to ‘Slow Down’ Amid Burnout Fears, Pushing Himself ‘Way Too Hard’ (Exclusive)

A close call!

Loved ones are begging Robert Irwin to take better care of himself after he suffered a scare on the set of Dancing with the Stars. The wildlife conservationist, 21, had just finished performing a team dance to Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration” on Tuesday, November 4, when he choked on a piece of confetti.

“I almost died,” he confessed to Entertainment Tonight. “I couldn’t breathe.”

Fortunately, the fan-favorite was able to cough the piece of paper up.

“It was terrifying. Robert really scared everyone,” a source tells Star. “He tried to brush it off because he’s a proud guy, but it really spooked him.”

Mom Terri Irwin and sister Bindi Irwin were pretty shaken up too.

“They are both saying this is a huge warning sign that Robert needs to slow down,” spills the source. “He’s been running on pure adrenaline for months, rehearsing day and night for the show and juggling all the commitments that come with it.”

The Australia Zoo keeper “hardly gets five hours a night to sleep” before he’s back at it again, notes the source. “He’s pushing himself way too hard.”

With the finish line in sight, though, and a Mirrorball Trophy on the line, “Robert doesn’t want to let anyone down,” the source explains.

However, Irwin is already a success in the eyes of Terri, 61, and Bindi, 27.

“They appreciate that Robert’s doing this to bring in as much money as he can for the sake of the zoo and the animals, and they are so proud of his drive,” says the source. “But they’re also frightened that he’s going to burn himself out.”

Adds the source: “Nothing is worth his health.”