Aussie Olympic icon, 32, dead after tragic drowning accident

Aussie Winter Olympics star Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin has died after a tragic drowning incident on the Gold Coast.

It's believed the 32-year-old - who was spearfishing at Palm Beach - lost consciousness after suffering a shallow water blackout just after 10.30am.

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A nearby fisherman noticed the snowboarding legend's body in the water and raised the attentions of a nearby surfer, who paddled in to shore to notify lifeguards.

Pullin was then transported back to shore on a jetski, where paramedics performed CPR on him for around 45 minutes.

“Lifeguards provided CPR to the man until the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) arrived and took over,” at City of Gold Coast spokeswoman said.

Channel 10 news producer Dougal Wallace confirmed the horrible news on Wednesday afternoon.

It's understood Pullin's family were at the beach with the 32-year-old before he suffered the tragedy.

The snowboard cross star was a multiple world champion and was Australia's flag bearer at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

"Paramedics were called to a post-immersion incident. One patient was treated at the scene," a Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said.

Tributes pour in after death of ‘Chumpy’ Pullin

Olympic champion Steven Bradbury said Pullin will be sorely missed and was everyone's best mate.

"The world will miss such a talented human and a double world champion without ego and without selfishness who is everyone's best mate - which isn't always the case with elite athletes," Bradbury told news website InQueensland.

"He was bound to be a positive influence on winter sports into the future and will be sorely missed."

The Australian Olympic Committee will issue a statement later on Wednesday.

With AAP