Sport
Friends and family paddle out in tribute to Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin – Sydney Morning Herald
Hundreds of friends, family and fans of the late snowboarder staged a tribute near the Gold Coast reef where Pullin died this week.
Australian snowboarding champion Alex “Chumpy” Pullin has been remembered during a paddle out by family, friends and fans at the Queensland reef where he died while spearfishing.
The 32-year-old Olympian was pulled lifeless from the water on Wednesday off Palm Beach, a suburb in Gold Coast’s south.
Alex Pullin’s girlfriend Ellidy Vlug is supported by family and friends on Saturday morning.Credit:Getty
Just after sunrise on Saturday, hundreds paddled out to the reef and linked together to create a large circle while sitting on surfboards in the waves.
Pullin’s girlfriend Ellidy Vlug, who wore a floral crown for the tribute paddle, paused at the memoral of flowers and candles set up on the sand before playing with Pullin’s dog Rummi on the water’s edge.
