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Prominent environmentalist Ian Kiernan, the founder the Clean Up Australia that expanded into a global success, has died aged 78.

The round-the-world yachtsman began the Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World campaigns after being appalled by levels of ocean rubbish in the 1980s.

In 1994, he famously helped come to the rescue of Prince Charles when a protester rushed at him, firing a starting pistol, on a stage in Sydney.

Kiernan, who had been diagnosed with cancer in late July, is survived by his wife Judy and two daughters Sally and Pip.

Clean Up Australia co-founder Kim McKay told the ABC that Kiernan "lived life hard and lived it well".

"He was a larger than life figure, and when larger than life figures leave us in Australia there is a void."

Clean Up Australia said its founder's guidance and humour would be missed but "it was his greatest wish that the work he inspired continues".

In a statement, the organisation advised “while we will deeply miss Ian's guidance and humour, it was his greatest wish that the work he inspired continues.”

Kiernan’s first clean-up event took place around Sydney Harbour in 1989, with more than 40,000 volunteers clearing rubbish from the shoreline.

It has since grown into a campaign with more than 35 million participants in 130 countries, according to the not-for-profit organisation.

Kiernan was an experienced sailor who represented Australia in several races including the Admiral's Cup and the Clipper round-the-world yacht race.

He received several honours for his conservation efforts, including the UN's Sasakawa Environment Prize in 1998.

In 1994, he was named Australian of the Year.

It was at that award ceremony that he helped to protect Prince Charles by tackling a student who had fired two blank shots from a starting pistol and run towards the stage.

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