Nearly six years after the tragic death of Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin, a bitter family feud has come to light.
The snowboarding champion passed away in 2020 at the age of 32 after a freak spearfishing accident, leaving behind his loving parents, Chris and Sally, and his girlfriend of eight years, Ellidy.
Now, it has been revealed that the now-defunct charity that was created in Chumpy’s honour following his death has caused a rift within the family.
Australian snowboarder Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin poses during a portrait session at Watsons Bay on April 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Chumpy’s father Chris Pullin has shared an email with Daily Mail that laid bare his concerns regarding the Chumpy Pullin Foundation.
The email – which was sent to the charity and signed by both Chris and his late wife Sally, who passed away from cancer shortly after – expressed their worries that the foundation was not upholding its founding principles.
The charity’s original mission was to aid children who hoped to excel in sports, however – prior to its closure in December 2024 – it had pivoted to a mental health focus.
In the email, Chris said the foundation was “not fulfilling its claim of upholding Chumpy’s ideals” and that he and his wife had been “made to feel as though we’re being negative and unsupportive” by not backing the change in direction.
Alex Pullin’s father and girlfriend Ellidy Vlug head out to sea to pay respects in memory of Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin on July 11, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images
However, Chris revealed to the publication that he was most concerned that the charity’s pivot to mental health would cause “misinfomation” that his son passed away by suicide.
The accusation led to Chumpy’s parents being blocked by Ellidy, who started the charity, Daily Mail reports.
It also resulted in Chris and Sally being estranged from Ellidy and their granddaughter Minnie, who was conceived via posthumous IVF and is Chumpy’s biological daughter.
The Pullins allowed Ellidy to harvest their son’s sperm in the hours after his death, a permission that was needed considering Ellidy and Chumpy were not married at the time.
Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin with partner Ellidy. Picture: Instagram @ellidy_
Ellidy Pullin poses alongside her daughter Minnie, who was posthumously conceived via IVF and is the biological daughter of Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin. Photo: Instagram @ellidy_
Chris revealed to the publication that the rift “broke Sally’s heart” before she passed, adding that it was “hurtful” that their granddaughter Minnie, four, never got to have a relationship with her beyond infancy.
Chumpy, Australia’s first snowboard world champion, drowned while spearfishing off Palm Beach on the Gold Coast in July 2020.
A snorkeller found him unresponsive on the ocean floor.
The sportsman was pulled from the water and taken to shore, where paramedics performed CPR for 45 minutes, however he could not be revived.
SkyNews.com.au have reached out to Ellidy Pullin for comment.