World champion snowboarder Alex Pullin dies in spearfishing accident

Alex "Chumpy" Pullin, a two-time snowboarding world champion, died on Wednesday while spearfishing in Australia.

"Paramedics were called to a post-immersion incident off Nineteenth Avenue at Palm Beach just after 10.30am," said the Queensland Ambulance Service in a statement Wednesday. "One patient was treated at the scene."

Pullin, 32, had retired from snowboarding earlier this year after an extremely prolific career. He won the snowboard cross world championship in 2011 and 2013 and was Australia's flag-bearer in the 2014 Winter Olympics.

"The Snow Australia community is shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of triple Olympian, Alex Pullin, who today lost his life while spearfishing on the Gold Coast this morning," Snow Australia said on Instagram. "Our deepest condolences are with Alex’s family, as well as his team mates and support staff. Alex was a beloved member of the Snow Australia community and he will be dearly missed."

Spearfishing was one of Pullin's favorite activities, as he often posted photos of himself spearfishing on social media. It is believed by police that he was diving alone, as he was found by another diver unconscious without an oxygen mask. Pullin was brought to shore and emergency services tried to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation for 45 minutes but could not save his life.

"He didn't have an oxygen mask, we understand he was free diving and spearfishing out on the reef," Sergeant Tritton said. "It appears he was diving alone. There were other divers out there but he was not with a friend."