'Waking up in the morning is hard': Shattered girlfriend of champion snowboarder Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin reveals the toll his sudden death has taken as she poses for a new bikini campaign

The girlfriend of champion snowboarder Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin has vowed to enjoy the 'simple things' this summer as she marks almost four months since his death. 

Pullin, a two time World Championship and three-time Olympian, was spearfishing off the coast of Palm Beach on the Gold Coast in July when he suffered a shallow water blackout and drowned.

His partner, Ellidy Vlug, arrived at the beach as the tragedy unfolded. 

The 28-year-old model has now joined forces with close friend Chloe Fisher to promote Surfstitch Swim ahead of summer, posing for a new bikini campaign.

Ellidy Vlug has opened up about mourning the loss of boyfriend Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin

The 28-year-old model has vowed to enjoy the 'simple things' this summer 

'I'm keen to really enjoy the simple things this summer – long beach days, or waterfall missions with close friends, music and hot chip sandwiches,' Ms Vlug told The Courier-Mail.

'I'm also keen to go on some camping trips down south, and I promised myself to get back into surfing, I really let that go this winter.'

Ms Vlug recently spoke about mourning the loss of Pullin in a heartbreaking Instagram post.

'Everything feels strange without you, without your touch and your voice. Waking up in the morning is hard,' she wrote. 

'Road tripping to Sydney feels strange. Stopping off at our favourite beaches. Going to our cafes. Watching movies.'

Ms Vlug said she feels like has has been on 'autopilot' since July 8.

Pullin , a two time World Championship and three-time Olympian, was spearfishing off the coast of Palm Beach on the Gold Coast in July when he suffered a shallow water blackout and drowned

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'

'The human body is Incredible, my mind is protecting my heart,' she wrote.

'And then it hits me at random moments - Chumpy's gone, he's not breathing, he's not coming back, I'm the only person sitting at this table who is going through this, why him, why not me, what the hell am I going to do now.

'We are just not equipped to deal with sudden trauma like this, not at 28, not ever. 

'Blindly trying to navigate my way. One foot in front of the other, feelings of uncertainty for what's ahead, and fear for when this numbness will wear off.'

Ms Vlug said her family and friends have been 'anchors' throughout her grief and also thanked social media for connecting her with 'hundreds of other widows around the world'.  

Ms Vlug (left with Chumpy) said she feels like has has been on 'autopilot' since July 8 when he drowned during a spearfishing trip

'I've had many people share their stories of loss with me, lightening each other's loads. One thing I don't feel is alone,' she wrote.

Pullin, 32, was an experienced free diver and had 'mastered the art of holding his breath for long periods of time,' Ms Vlug previously explained to Daily Mail Australia. 

He 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.

She then raced to the beach with her mother, where she was told the body belonged to her boyfriend of eight years. 

Pullin, 32, was an experienced free diver and had 'mastered the art of holding his breath for long periods of time,' Ms Vlug previously explained to Daily Mail Australia