The cause of death has yet to be announced.

A five-time Olympian between 1972 and 1992 representing Austria, Stajkovic's best position was eighth in the men's 10 metres platform at the Moscow 1980 Games.

He became one of the youngest Olympic competitors ever when he made his Olympic debut in 1972 at the age of 13.

The Austrian also won two European Swimming Federation (LEN) European Championships medals.

At the 1981 championships in Split, Stajkovic took bronze in the men's 3m springboard before claiming silver in the same event at the 1987 

Stajkovic was a big enthusiast and promoter of the inclusion of High Diving in the FINA programme and he oversaw the discipline's debut at the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona.

In its condolence letter to his wife Nicole, FINA wrote: “We will remember him as a person who cared in the first place about the safety of the athletes and did all to present them with perfect and safe conditions, so that they could perform at their best in the sport that he loved”.

Stajkovic was also the sports director of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series and his colleagues from the competition have also paid tribute to the Austrian.

"A member of the Red Bull Cliff Diving family since the very beginning, Niki will be missed by the diving community and his friends all over the world," read a statement.

"Our thoughts are now with his wife Nicole and the whole family."