AP SurveyMonkey CEO David Goldberg, poses at the company headquarters in Palo Alto, California

The 47-year-old SurveyMonkey CEO died of severe head trauma in an accident while exercising at a resort in the Mexican town of Punta Mita, an official revealed. David Goldberg, who was married to Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg, was found lying in a pool of blood next to a treadmill at the resort, the unnamed Mexican official confirmed. Mr Goldberg is believed to have slipped on the treadmill and hit the machine, said the official, who was not authorised to speak to the press and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Dave Goldberg was an amazing person and I am glad I got to know him Mark Zuckerberg

Efforts to revive Goldberg – who was in Mexico vacationing with his family and friends – were all unsuccessful. His official cause of death is believed to be severe head trauma and hypovolemic shock, or serious blood loss. The popular Silicon Valley executive, whose company runs an online service for people who want to conduct questionnaires and polls, is believed to have died late Friday night. His company and family members confirmed his death Saturday but did not give a cause of death, leading to widespread speculation.

GETTY Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, and husband David Goldberg pictured walking in Sun Valley, Idaho

The family is planning a funeral and memorial service in Silicon Valley, California. It is by invitation-only. Mr Goldberg married longtime tech executive Sheryl Sandberg, 45, in 2004. Ms Sandberg currently serves as Facebook Chief Operating Officer and is known for her 2011 book on the dearth of women in positions of power, "Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead". The book details the adjustments Ms Sandberg and her husband had to make to balance two high-profile careers while raising two children. In it, Ms Sandberg refers to her husband as a "best friend, closest advisor, dedicated coparent". Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg posted a tribute to Mr Goldberg on his public profile.