Dead Winter Olympian Alex Pullin's girlfriend Ellidy announces IVF pregnancy after partner's sperm retrieval

The grieving girlfriend of champion snowboarder Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin has revealed the bittersweet news she is pregnant with their child, almost a year after his death.

Ellidy Vlug, 29, made the heartwarming announcement to her 57,000 Instagram followers through a series of photos of her baby bump

Her 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.

The snowboarder was spearfishing when he suffered a shallow water blackout and drowned, with his distraught partner arriving on the beach as the tragedy unfolded.

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.

'Bubba Chump coming this October', Ms Vlug captioned the post, receiving well-wishes from pro-surfers Mick Fanning and Alana Blanchard in the comments.

'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 a year after the loss of Pullin, which she describes as feeling 'surreal'. On the podcast she co-hosts with friend Chloe Fisher, the wife of international DJ Paul Fisher, 'Darling, shine!', 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.