Surf lifesaving champion Dean Mercer – who grew up in Thirroul – has been remembered as a loving husband, devoted father and icon of his sport after he died on the Gold Coast on Monday morning.

Mercer's car crashed through a fence at Mermaid Waters after the 47-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest behind the wheel.

Paramedics worked on the father-of-four at the scene. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition and doctors were unable to save him.

A statement on behalf of the family said Mercer's wife Reen had to tell their four boys of the "shocking news" after he failed to return home from a regular morning training session.

Read more: Ironman genes run in Mercer family

"It is with great sadness and grief that we advise that our beloved Dean - loving husband of Reen and devoted father to their four boys Brayden,13, Rory,11, Lachlan 9, and Joshua 6 - passed away earlier today as a result of a cardiac arrest while driving on the Gold Coast.

"Dean had been returning home from his regular earlier morning training session with a Masters group at Kurrawa Surf Club – where he is the Director of Surf Sports.

"He was to call in and buy groceries for the family when he suffered a cardiac arrest at the wheel of his car and crashed into a fence on Markeri Street, Mermaid Waters. Ambulance officers were quickly on the [scene]. Dean was pronounced dead several hours later at Gold Coast University Hospital.

"Reen, surrounded by close friends has had to tell her boys of the shocking news. You can only imagine the grief surrounding the Mercer family at this time."

The statement paid tribute to Mercer's courage in the water, where he was often battling older brother Darren and all-time greats such as Trevor Hendy and Guy Leech.

Read more: The truth about those strange black boxes

"No surf was too big and no opponent too tall as he tackled the biggest and best in the business from his early days in Austinmer and Thirroul before making his move to Maroochydore and Mooloolaba and then to Northcliffe and finally to Kurrawa.

"He will go down in history as one of Australia's greatest ironmen who represented both NSW and Queensland and wore the green and gold of Australia."

Mercer was known as a bull terrier in his races. His gutsy victory over Trevor Hendy in the 1995 Australian Iron Man Final was one of the greatest moments of his career.

He won his first Australian crown in 1989, before adding a second six years later. He was at the heart of the "household name" era of the sport during its televised glory days in the late '80s and '90s.

Mercer won five NSW state titles, a pair of Test of the Toughest titles and various national titles in other surf lifesaving events.

After retiring from racing, Mercer remained heavily involved in the sport, coaching the Nippers at the Gold Coast's Kurrawa club and being inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2014.

On Sunday night former ironman Jonathan Crowe had a couple of beers with Dean Mercer at Sydney airport after he had visited Thirroul on the weekend for a funeral.

Less than 12 hours later on Monday morning Crowe was shocked to hear reports his ironman mate had lost his life after his car ran off the road on the Gold Coast.

“I am absolutely devastated,” Crowe said.

The two competed at the elite level for many years along with Dean’s brother Darren Mercer.

They formed a close friendship and stayed in contact when Dean moved to Queensland.

Crowe said it was great to see his long time friend at Sydney airport on Sunday night just before he flew back to the Gold Coast.

Mercer had visited Thirroul on the weekend to be with his family for his Grandmother’s funeral.

But on Monday morning news filtered through to Crowe that Mercer had apparently gone training on the Gold Coast next morning and on the way home his car ran off the road.

The Mercury understands paramedics worked on Mercer on the side of the road before he was taken to hospital in a critical condition. And that he may have suffered a medical episode.

“He was down in Thirroul on the weekend for his grandmother’s funeral with all the family,” Crowe said.

“I saw him at the airport last night as he headed back to the Gold Coast. We had two beers and a laugh.”

Crowe said Mercer is a father of young boys and he is particularly thinking of his family at this time.

More to come.