Olympic snowboarder Alex "Chumpy" Pullin was diving alone when he was found unconscious on the sea floor without an oxygen mask on the Gold Coast. The 32-year-old experienced free diver is believed to have drowned while spearfishing at an artificial reef off Palm Beach this morning.
Olympic snowboarder Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin has died after being pulled lifeless from the water at a Gold Coast beach where he had been spearfishing.
Emergency services were called to Palm Beach, off Nineteenth Avenue, about 10.30am on Wednesday after lifeguards dragged the 32-year-old to shore.
Gold Coast council lifeguards and off-duty volunteer lifesavers attempted to revive Pullin before paramedics arrived. He was pronounced dead about 40 minutes later, a police spokesman said.
Pullin was an experienced free diver and had been spearfishing at the artificial reef before being found unresponsive on the ocean floor, Nine News reported.
A Gold Coast council spokesperson said one of the city's lifeguards was first to provide assistance.
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In a statement, Surf Life Saving Queensland said the organisation's thoughts were with Pullin's family and friends.
"The volunteer lifesavers involved have been offered peer support counselling, and this support will continue for as long as needed," the statement said.
The accomplished snowboarder was a three-time world championship winner and represented Australia in three Winter Olympics — including as a flag bearer in 2014.
He had been active on his Instagram page just last week, sharing images from a spearfishing trip.
"Unreal day in the ocean!" he wrote in the post. "Whales singing and breaching all around us, hanging with great people, plus bringing home plenty of fish for the week."
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