A witness to a skydiving accident in Mount Maunganui says it looked like the parachute was folded up as the young man came down to earth.

Theo Williams, 21, died on the way to hospital after skydiving near Kittyhawk Way​ on Saturday morning.

A witness to the accident, Maree Conayne, says she thought Williams' parachute was folded up, and he was coming down way too fast.

'We had just watched a couple of others come down before him, and they came in slowly.

'The noise was so loud, you knew no-one could survive that.”

She says Williams wasn't moving and another instructor ran over to him, with an airport fire engine not far behind.

'They quickly came over and straight away started CPR.

'They kept swapping [and] didn't give up until the fire, ambulances and police turned up and took over.”

She says Williams was then put on a stretcher while people were still doing CPR on him before the ambulance sped off.

'We heard shortly after he hadn't made it.”

Conayne says the emergency services did an amazing job, as did the instructor who was on his own with him at the beginning.

'I wish I could have hugged him, as being a mum of four you just want them to be okay.

'It's something that will stay in my mind.”

On social media friends paid tribute to Williams, sharing their shock at his death.

'You lived your life by having the best adventure you could, and I hope that your adventure never ends,” one person says.

In a statement, Tauranga Skydive chief executive Donnie Banez​ says the company is saddened by the accident.

Williams was an experienced, single sports skydiver who was completing a solo jump, Banez says.

'After a normal free fall and safe parachute opening, the sports skydiver suffered injuries upon landing.”

All information has been passed on to the appropriate authorities, Banez says.

'He is a valued member of our skydiving family, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

'We have organised ongoing support for our team, and a private karakia​ was held to honour his memory.”

The New Zealand Parachute Industry Association safety director Stuart Bean says the matter will be investigated by the Civil Aviation Authority.

'The NZPA offer condolences to the family and friends of the person involved and will assist the CAA in any way requested of us.”

-Stuff/ Kirsty Lawrence.