Tributes continue to flow for a champion skydiver who died a day after an horrific accident in northern NSW that killed his jump partner.

Michael Vaughan, aged in his 40s, was left with critical injuries when his parachute became tangled with that of Alana Clarke, 29, during a dive from 4000 feet on Friday afternoon.

The pair plummeted to the ground near Byron Bay, with Ms Clarke dying at the scene.

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Mr Vaughan was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital but died on Saturday night after multiple surgeries.

Friends and former students have shared photos on Facebook and remembered the veteran of 11,000 dives as an inspirational mentor.

“Today, our sport lost a pioneer. And the world lost a bright light. My heart aches for his family, his team, and our sport,” wrote Scott Lazarus.

“You shall be remembered as a man with great talent, passion, patience and as someone who never stopped giving in this sport of ours,” wrote Rebecca Freescott.

Many others wrote dedications using the sport’s parlance: “Fly free.”

Investigators from the Australian Parachute Foundation (APF) believe Mr Vaughan and Ms Clarke collided during a dive that required them to fly close together.

The trouble appears to have started below 3000 feet after their parachutes opened.