Add Category
Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin has been remembered as an incredible athlete who lived life to the fullest and outshined all his accolades.
- Hundreds have paddled out to pay their respects to the champion snowboarder
- Surfer Mick Fanning remembered Pullin as a humble man who took the time to be with people
- Another memorial for Pullin will be held at North Narrabeen in Northern Sydney on Sunday
Hundreds of teary-eyed mourners have paddled out past the breakers in tribute to the three-time winter Olympian at the site of his death.
The 32-year-old champion snowboarder died while spearfishing alone at an artificial reef at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast on Wednesday morning.
"I've never seen someone so dedicated and so driven in his sport, but on top of that, the person he was — I think that outshone all his accolades," surfing champion Mick Fanning said at Saturday's paddle out.
"He was a super humble guy, and he was a guy who just really took time to be with people — I'm sure he's up there smiling and keeping a good eye, protecting his family."
Pullin's girlfriend, Ellidy Vlug, led family and friends in a tribute just offshore, while the couple's pet kelpie, Rummi, kept watch on the shore.
"This is a very difficult time for me and I ask that you respect my privacy during this period of grief," Ms Vlug said in a note to the media on Thursday.
"Know that Chumpy absolutely loved life and lived it to the full.
"He lived for us — his family, our puppy Rummi, our amazing friends and the home we made together.
"He was living his dream, our dream.
Pullin was found unconscious by a snorkeller and brought ashore on Wednesday morning.
Lifeguards and Queensland Ambulance Service officers attempted to resuscitate Pullin on the beach but were unable to revive him.
A police dive squad attended the scene and a report is being prepared for the coroner.
It is believed Pullin may have suffered a shallow water blackout.
Another memorial for Pullin will be held at North Narrabeen in Northern Sydney on Sunday.
Pullin was a dual snowboard cross world champion who was the Australian flag-bearer at the Sochi Olympics in 2014.
He represented Australia at three Winter Olympic Games — in Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018.
Pullin won gold at the 2011 and 2013 World Championships and claimed bronze at the 2017 edition.
He was also a two-time World Cup winner and won silver at the 2016 Winter X Games.