Australian man survives horror skydiving accident after instructor sacrifices his own life

An Australian father who survived a horrific skydiving accident has paid tribute to his instructor who sacrificed his life to save him.

Christopher Rantall fell 12,000 feet during a skydive in Victoria last month. He survived, thanks only to his instructor who didn't make it.

Rantall's daughter Raya and her instructor jumped first but her dad, plummeting at up to 200km/h, overtook them after both the main and reserve parachutes failed.

Instructor Arron Toepfer turned in the last seconds before they crashed into a paddock, cushioning the blow. Toepfer died from his injuries. 

"It still gets to me," Rantall told 7 News. "Aaron - he basically sacrificed his life that I can live. I have a chance at living. 

"I personally believe it is a miracle that I'm alive and I think it's another miracle that I'm as able-bodied as I am."

Rantall said he had no recollection of the crash's impact.

"For someone to put their [own] life in danger to save a stranger, how brave do you have to be to do that?"

Rantall was in the hospital for just two weeks and his most serious injury was a dislocated hip.

He said he wouldn't skydive again following the accident.