Nethercott is understood to have had brain cancer.

"We mourn his passing," a Great Britain rowing team spokesman said.

Nethercott, who was from Harlow in Essex, coxed the British men's eight to Olympic silver in Beijing in 2008 a year after steering the boat to bronze at the World Championships.

Earlier in his career he guided Oxford to Boat Race wins in 2003 and 2005 but was also involved in the controversial incident where Oxford lost to Cambridge in 2004 after a clash of blades.

Nethercott was in contention to cox the men's eight for London 2012 before the role was given to Phelan Hill.

The British crew, including 40-year-old Greg Searle, went on to win bronze, finishing behind Canada and gold medal winners Germany.

The team said Nethercott lived up to the meaning of his forename, which is "fierce, keen and eager" in Latin.

"It is very sad news," the team's performance director Sir David Tanner said.

"Acer was the top British cox of his time.

"He had an exceptional period with the GB Rowing Team until illness in the past Olympiad".

Acer Nethercott guiding the British eight at the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Di Ellis, chairman of British Rowing, said she was "deeply saddened" by his death.

"Acer was a young man who always appeared as an independent spirit with a sense of fun but once in the boat was a determined competitive cox for his crew whether club, university or country," she said.

Garry Herbert, the Olympic gold medal-winning cox from Barcelona 1992, wrote on Twitter:  "A privilege to have known him, he lived up to the meaning of his name in every way."

Molesey Boat Club in Surrey, where Nethercott was a member, tweeted:  "All very sad at Molesey BC this morning with the tragic news that Acer Nethercott has passed away. RIP Acer, you'll be sorely missed."

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