Australian Winter Olympics star Alex Pullin dies in spearfishing accident

Winter Olympian and world champion snowboarder Alex Pullin has died after being pulled unconscious from the surf on the Gold Coast.

Australian snowboard cross Winter Olympic athlete Alex Pullin. Source: Getty

Australian dual world snowboard champion and Winter Olympian Alex "Chumpy" Pullin has died while spearfishing on the Gold Coast.

Pullin was the flag bearer for Australia at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Police have confirmed a 32-year-old man was unconscious when dragged from the water at Palm Beach around 10.40am on Wednesday.

Alex Pullin holds the national flag before the Sochi Winter Olympics. Source: AAP

Lifeguards performed CPR and paramedics attended the incident at Nineteenth Ave, but the man was pronounced dead just before 11.15am.

"Paramedics were called to a post-immersion incident. One patient was treated at the scene," a Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said.

Alex Pullin competing in 2017. Source: AP

Olympic champion Steven Bradbury said Pullin will be sorely missed and was everyone's best mate.

"The world will miss such a talented human and a double world champion without ego and without selfishness who is everyone's best mate - which isn't always the case with elite athletes," Bradbury told news website InQueensland.

"He was bound to be a positive influence on winter sports into the future and will be sorely missed."

The Australian Olympic Committee will issue a statement later on Wednesday.