‘Miracle baby’: Widow reveals desperate race to collect Olympian’s sperm in wake of death

Olympic snowboarder Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin’s widow Ellidy Vlug has detailed the emotional race to collect his sperm in the hours following his tragic death last year, as she vows to continue living their dream of parenthood.

The now-pregnant partner of Olympic snowboarder Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin has revealed the desperate rush to retrieve his sperm in the days following his tragic death last year.

Ellidy Vlug, 29, took to her podcast alongside good friend and co-host Chloe Fisher on Monday, less than 24 hours after confirming on social media she was pregnant with the couple’s first “little miracle.”

“Everyone knew we were trying so hard for a baby,” she said, speaking of the couple’s desire to become parents in the lead up to Pullin’s death.

Olympic snowboarder Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin’s widow has revealed she’s pregnant with his child, almost a year after his tragic death in a freak Gold Coast diving accident. Ellidy Vlug took to Instagram Sunday to reveal the heartwarming news.

“As soon as we got together, we were talking about the future and babies and everything we were going to do.”

Sadly, Pullin, 32, drowned on July 8 last year after suffering a suspected shallow water blackout while free diving at Palm Beach.

“We were able to hustle,” Ms Vlug told listeners while reflecting on the race to collect specimens in the days following the tragedy.

Queensland Legislation states sperm can be removed posthumously where a designated officer has no grounds to believe the deceased would object to the removal.

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They also need the consent of immediate family, including Pullin’s parents, to undertake the time sensitive procedure.

“Chumpy’s parents had flown up, everyone was in town, everyone was signing court documents, affidavits and dealing with the coroners, lawyers and doctors,” Ms Vlug said.

An IVF specialist must be involved to retrieve sperm from a deceased person within a clinically recommended time frame of 24-36 hours after death.

“We found an IVF doctor, Doctor Davidson, who actually went in and retrieved Chumpy’s sperm before the time limit was up,” Ms Vlug said.

TRAGEDY: Alex Pullin's partner Ellidy Vlug is supported by family and friends in memory of Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin at a memorial in the days after his tragic death. Photo: Chris Hyde

“(It was) incredibly fortunate we had the resources and the means to make this happen in such crucial time.

“I was so lucky to have my mum, Chloe, Erika and Laura, but also my bro who played a massive part in this (sperm retrieval),” Ms Vlug said.

The news comes just days after Mrs Fisher revealed during an emotional podcast episode that she suffered another miscarriage following a heartwrenching IVF journey.

Despite her own heartache she had been on the “edge of her seat” waiting to share news of Ms Vlug’s pregnancy.

“I can’t be anymore happy for El, we’ve been on this journey together from the get go,” Mrs Fisher said.

RAW: Best friends Ellidy Vlug and Chloe Fisher share their heartbreaking experiences in their new podcast ‘Darling, Shine.’ Photo: Supplied.

The soon-to-be mum Ms Vlug went on to reaffirm her eagerness at taking on this next chapter despite urges from some loved ones to wait a little by longer.

“It’s the most bittersweet thing in the world and it’s a complete emotional rollercoaster, but this is my greatest gift and I’m just honestly so excited for this journey,” she said.

“I’m not saying it’s going to be easy or a walk in the park; I have a lot ahead of me, I’ve got big shoes to fill.

“I’ve got to be a dad and a mum in one and not just any dad, I’ve got to be a Chumpy dad.”

Next Thursday will mark one year since Pullin’s death.

“I go through a lot every day and I will forever grief, that never leaves you, but I was always so sure of one thing; that I was always going to have this bub.”

Originally published as ‘Miracle baby’: Widow reveals desperate race to collect Olympian’s sperm in wake of death