Chinese gymnast Zou Li Min drowns while rock fishing on Australia's south coast

Zou Li Min was swept off rocks at Dark Beach in South Durras on Sunday, about 1.30pm.

Police say he was rock fishing but was not wearing a life jacket. He was pulled from the water just before 2.30pm, but could not be revived.

Mr Zou was a senior coach at the Woden Valley Gymnastics Club in Canberra, and was highly-respected by his students and peers.

As a boy, he competed for China in the world championships, winning a silver medal in 1985 on the horizontal bars.

He retired as a gymnast in 1986, and took up coaching, eventually moving to the Australian Institute of Sport in 1993, before joining the Western Australian Institute of Sport.

Mr Zou returned to Canberra to take up a position with the Woden Valley club in 1999, and has coached there since.

His death has shocked the club, which issued a statement on Tuesday.

Mr Zou is survived by his wife Shuang, and two children Annette and Natalie.

"As a Club, we express our deep heartfelt sympathy to Shuang, Annette and Natalie for their tragic loss," the statement said.

"This tragedy has deeply affected everyone at the Club, particularly coaches and the senior boys and girls competitive training squads."

Counsellors have been engaged to assist the club's gymnasts and staff.

He was described as an "avid fisherman", using it as a way to relax away from the stress of full-time coaching.

Mr Zou trained athletes to represent Australian and the ACT at national and international competitions.

Rock fishing became the leading cause of coastal drownings in NSW for the first time in 2013-14, according to statistics from Surf Live Saving NSW.

Eight rock fishermen died in that year, accounting for more than a quarter of all deaths.

The dangerous nature of the activity prompts routine warnings for fishermen to wear lifejackets.

The gymnastics club said it would release details about a memorial service as soon as they become available.