Pregnant widow and parents of legendary Olympic snowboarder Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin return to the beach where he died one year on
- Champion snowboarder Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin drowned at Palm Beach last July
- His grieving widow, model Ellidy Vlug, revealed she is having their baby via IVF
- She and his parents, Chris and Sally, shared a moving sunrise vigil at Palm Beach
The pregnant widow of an Australian snowboarding champion has organised a private vigil for her boyfriend at the beach he drowned exactly a year ago.
Ellidy Vlug watched the sunrise with her Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin's parents Chris and Sally at Palm Beach, Queensland, where he died while spearfishing on July 8, 2020.
Ms Vlug and her would-be in-laws were huddled together, supporting each other as they watched the sun come up at the water's edge while their dogs scampered on the sand on the anniversary of Pullin's tragic death.
Ellidy Vlug (centre), girlfriend of snowboarder Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin gathered on Thursday with his parents Chris and Sally Pullin and a friend for a sunrise vigil at Palm Beach, where Pullin drowned exactly a year ago
Ellidy Vlug stares out to sea just after the sun came up above Palm Beach, where her boyfriend, Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin drowned exactly a year ago
Sally and Chris Pullin, the parents of Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin, hugged as they remembered their son, while Ellidy Vlug, his pregnant girlfriend stayed close
The family's grief was obvious as they hugged, laughed and talked together on a cold Gold Coast morning, with another friend and two kelpies there for support.
The family declined to talk when approached by journalist, with Chris Pullin explaining 'bit too much grief mate'.
Alex Pullin, 32, was spearfishing when he suffered a shallow water blackout and drowned, with his distraught partner arriving on the beach as the tragedy unfolded.
Ellidy Vlug (centre, in black) walked along Palm Beach with Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin's parents Sally and Chris (at right) and a friend after watching the sun come up on the one year anniversary of the death of Alex, her boyfriend
Ms Vlug, the grieving girlfriend of champion snowboarder Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin recently revealed the bittersweet news she is pregnant with their child, almost a year after his death
Ellidy Vlug and Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin loved spending time together at the beach on the Gold Coast
He was found on the ocean floor by another snorkeller and brought to shore by lifeguards.
It has been a rollercoaster month for Ms Vlug, 29, who announced she was pregnant in June via IVF as her boyfriend's sperm was harvested before he died.
She made the heartwarming announcement to her 57,000 Instagram followers through a series of photos of her swollen stomach.
Ellidy Vlug has already introduced her bump to her late partner's parents (pictured) as they posed in front of an image of Mr Pullin in the Winter Olympics
Ms Vlug displayed her pregnancy progress after announcing the happy news recently
The couple had been trying for a baby before his death, prompting Ms Vlug to seek out IVF treatment in the hope of keeping his memory alive.
Ms Vlug is due to give birth to the couple's child in October.
'Bubba Chump coming this October', Ms Vlug captioned the post, receiving well-wishes from pro-surfers Mick Fanning and Alana Blanchard in the comments.
Ms Vlug's late partner and three-time Olympian Alex Pullin, 32, tragically drowned in a freak diving accident at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast in July last year
Ellidy Vlug visited Palm Beach on Thursday morning for a sunrise vigil with her boyfriend's family and a friend, exactly a year after he died
'When my love had his accident, we all held onto hope that I'd be pregnant that month. We'd been trying for a baby,' the 29-year-old model wrote.
'IVF was on our cards but it wasn't something I ever imagined I'd be tackling on my own. Bittersweet like none other, I've never been more certain or excited about anything in my entire life.'
The news comes after Ms Vlug spoke candidly of the intense heartache she feels after the loss of Pullin, which she describes as feeling 'surreal'.
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On the podcast she co-hosts with friend Chloe Fisher, the wife of international DJ Paul Fisher, she admitted to still feeling 'like a robot'.
'I miss him. I want him back. 'I just can't believe he's not about to walk in the door any day', Ms Vlug said.
'I go to text him, I go to call him still. I f***ing just wish he would come back. And I still can't believe he can't.'
Ms Vlug (left) celebrates with a pal who captioned the photo: 'This angel and her Chumpy bumpy'
Ellidy Vlug is pictured with Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin and their beloved kelpie Rummi
Ellidy Vlug and her two kelpies in the car park near Palm Beach, Queensland today, after she had conducted a private sunrise vigil with her boyfriend Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin's parents
The model described how she had 'this really crazy feeling in my heart' on the day of Pullin's death, but put it down to stress induced by the upcoming weekend.
'It was just a feeling I've never felt before. That day I got home from that walk and it kind of all eventuated Chump had literally passed away... I just don't even know how to even say that word.'
Ms Vlug previously told Daily Mail Australia Pullin had been an experienced free diver and 'had mastered the art of holding his breath for long periods of time'.
The Olympian often went out spearfishing on his own or with friends, and Ms Vlug said she never once had any concerns about anything going askew.
On the morning of his death, the couple woke late before Pullin decided to go get some sun.
Ms Vlug told Daily Mail Australia she last saw her boyfriend alive moments before he'd decided to go for a dive, telling him: 'Love you, watch out for sharks'.
Ms Vlug then went for a walk, returning home to find a neighbour at her door telling her a spearfisher had been pulled from the ocean.
Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin was twice snowboard cross world champion and the Australian flag-bearer at the Russian Sochi Olympics in 2014.
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