Australian Winter Olympics snowboarding star Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin is believed to have drowned on the Gold Coast whilst spearfishing, according to multiple reports.

The 32-year-old sports star and experienced free diver was found unresponsive on the ocean floor while spearfishing at an artificial reef off Palm Beach. Paramedics were called to the scene at about 10:30am Wednesday.

Lifeguards and paramedics performed CPR for 45 minutes on the man but he couldn’t be saved. It’s reported he may have suffered a medical episode underwater.

“Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends,” Surf Life Saving Queensland said in a statement.

Pullin was a two-time snowboard cross world champion and three-time Olympian. He was also the Australian flag bearer for the 2014 Winter Olympic games in Sochi.

Two weeks ago, Pullin posted a photo to his social media of him spearfishing with the caption: “Unreal day in the ocean! Whales singing & breaching all around us, hanging with great people, plus bringing home plenty of fish for the week.”

It’s the second spearfishing death to happen in south-east Queensland in five days after a 36-year-old spearfisher was fatally attacked by a shark off Fraser Island on Sunday.