Alex Pullin, who was unresponsive when taken from the water and could not be revived, drowned while spearfishing.

Two-time world snowboard champion Alex Pullin has drowwhile spearfishing in Australia.

The Australian, known as Chumpy, had been diving on an artificial reef off Palm Beach, Queensland, when he was found by a snorkeler at around 10.40am local time on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old was unresponsive when taken from the water, a police spokesman said, adding that he died despite receiving CPR from lifeguards and emergency treatment from paramedics.

The spokesman said: “Another diver was out there and located him on the sea floor and raised the attention of nearby surfers who sought lifeguards to bring him in.

“He didn’t have an oxygen mask. We understand he was free diving and spearfishing out on the reef.”

Pullin won gold medals in the snowboard cross event at the 2011 and 2013 world championships and carried Australia’s flag at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

Australia’s winter sports body, Snow Australia, said it was shocked and saddened by Pullin’s death.