Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin: Girlfriend Ellidy Vlug pens heartbreaking letter after world champion’s Palm Beach death
The girlfriend of Alex “Chumpy” Pullin has penned a heartbreaking letter after his untimely death on the Gold Coast.
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THE girlfriend of Alex “Chumpy” Pullin has penned a heartbroken goodbye to the world champion snowboarder after his shock Palm Beach spear fishing death.
In an emotional letter pinned to the front door of the couple’s home, Ellidy Vlug wrote Alex “loved life and lived it to the full”.
“He lived for us - his family, our puppy Rummi, our amazing friends and the home we made together.
“He was living his dream, our dream.
“I am eternally grateful that I have lived my life with him and I am deeply saddened that his life has been cut short.
“Rest in peace my beautiful man.”
The couple had been together for almost 10 years after getting together at friend and surfer Laura Enerver’s birthday party.
Days before his death Alex had been champing at the bit to get back out on the reef.
Gold Coast physiotherapist Scott Johnstone has shared a poignant surfing escapade he had last week with the “humble legend”, as well as final messages exchanged between the pair.
Their chance encounter came just days before Alex’s spear fishing tragedy at a Palm Beach artificial reef on Wednesday morning when it’s believed he suffered a shallow water blackout just after 10.30am.
He was discovered unresponsive on the ocean floor and dragged to shore, but couldn’t be revived despite almost an hour of CPR.
HEARTBROKEN FAREWELLS FOR ‘BONAFIDE CHAMPION’
Mr Johnstone recounts on Instagram he had met the avid musician and athlete at the same reef just six days before his death.
“Instantly I recognised him and was pretty star struck as I had been a big fan of his career and admired his training methods over the years,” he wrote in a post on Wednesday night.
“A true Australian sporting legend and it (was) just me and him trading waves on my favourite wave.
“He was stoked on the water clarity and was talking about how good a day it would be for spear fishing on the reef.
“He was pumped about his hobby and the feeling it gave to bring home fish to his partner and friends.”
PARTNER’S LOVING NOTE TO ‘MY BEAUTIFUL MAN, CHUMPY’
Messages from Alex show how excited he was to hit the beach again, texting: “I’m so keen to score the reef again when it picks up! Man that was fun.”
Mr Johnstone said Alex was “pumped” for a shift in career direction, upcoming projects and “living the dream” in Palm Beach.
“We came in at the same time, caught a few on the beachy and walked up to the showers together. He shook my hand and introduced himself again as ‘Chumpy’. I thought to myself what an absolute humble legend - I already know who you are man, haha, I have watched you win World Championships and compete in the Olympics. I have been inspired seeing your training and agility work for years.
‘ABSOLUTE TRAGEDY’: PULLIN’S JUNIOR MENTOR REACTS TO DEATH
“I thought to myself what an absolute humble legend.
“We spoke during the week about our session, about surfing the reef again and he was quick to offer advice about spearfishing gear.
“Personally, I am going to be calling Palmy Reef ‘Chumpy’s Reef”. No session will ever be the same again out here with what has happened but I can only try to remember the vibe.”
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