Olympic champion snowboarder drowns spearfishing - Australia

[DandyDon]

https://7news.com.au/sport/australian-snowboarding-great-and-olympian-alex-chumpy-pullin-drowns-off-gold-coast-c-1153223

Champion Australian snowboarder Alex “Chumpy” Pullin has drowned off the Gold Coast.

It’s understood Pullin suffered a medical episode while spearfishing off Palm Beach on Wednesday morning.

Watch the video above as police and paramedics describe the rescue attempt

The 32-year-old was the flag bearer at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi during an accomplished career in snowboard cross.

He was found on the seafloor near an artificial reef, where he has previously dived.

Surfers took him to shore unresponsive about 10.45am.

Lifeguards, from both the City of Gold Coast and Surf Life Saving Queensland, the latter of whom were off-duty, gave him CPR until the Queensland Ambulance Service arrived and took over.

He was given CPR for about 45 minutes before being declared dead.

Pullin was free-diving, or diving without a breathing apparatus, and was wearing a weight belt.

That’s what kept him on the ocean floor, authorities believe.

He had no obvious signs of injury, and it’s unknown how long he was underwater.

It’s reported he was an experienced spear fisherman but may have suffered a medical episode underwater.

 

[Catito]

World-champion snowboarder Alex Pullin dies

 

[BlueTrin]

Duplicate of Olympic champion snowboarder drowns spearfishing - Australia

sad news

 

[chris kippax]

Very sad news,
Shallow water blackout is no joke, it should be in the forefront of any freediver's mind.
The buddy system of one down one up should always be observed when possible

 

[Hank49]

It happened to one of my stepsons.
He and his brother were diving together and the one dove down to untangle a fish at about 25 meters.
On the way up, he stopped kicking at about 4 meters depth and blew out his air and then started sinking.
His brother was there watching and immediately dived down and pulled him to the surface, unconscious.
He punched him in the stomach causing him to blow out water and vomit. He regained consciousness while being towed to the boat.
Very lucky indeed. I took him straight to the hospital when they arrived home.
You think it will never happen....until it does...