As the skydiving fraternity mourns internally-acclaimed competitor and trainer Michael Vaughan, Moruya teammate Jules McConnel has vowed to continue in the sport he loved.
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Mr Vaughan was critically injured after his parachute became tangled with another diver at Byron Bay in training on Friday, causing he and 29-year-old Alana Clarke to plummet to the ground.
Ms Clarke died on impact and Mr Vaughan died the following night.
The team of Ms McConnel, Mr Vaughan and Craig Bennett had been together for eight years, predominantly training at Skydive Oz Moruya.
They had won several national titles.
Ms McConnel said Mr Vaughan was well-known in Moruya, Australia and globally.
“He was a very well-known and very respected skydiver, competitor, coach and mentor,” she said.
“Since 2007, we’ve done close to 2000 jumps together as a team.”
Ms McConnel said another team member would replace Mr Vaughan.
“I know Michael wouldn’t want us to stop,” she said.