THE close mate of a daredevil Mossman base jumper who was last night clinging to life in Townsville Hospital has given heartfelt thanks to his friend's rescuers.

Port Douglas man Rob Parry parachuted to Hamish McCorkindale’s side when the 32-year-old slammed into the water at Wallaman Falls near Ingham on Sunday after failing to pull his rip-cord in time during the 260m descent.

View rescue chopper footage.

Yesterday, Mr Parry praised the "impeccable timing, efficiency and professionalism" of pilots, police, paramedics and medical staff who he credited with saving his friend’s life.

He vowed he and fellow base-jumpers would donate money to Emergency Management Queensland.

"This was one of the quickest and most efficient rescues I have seen and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart," Mr Parry wrote.

View picture gallery.

The chopper crew put their lives at risk manoeuvring to retrieve the critically injured jumper, he said.

Yesterday, a spokesman for acting Emergency Services Minister Andrew Fraser described any donation to volunteer emergency service groups as "welcome".

The rescue’s estimated cost is more than $30,000.

"Emergency Services does not undertake cost recover," the spokesman said. "We’re happy Mr McCorkindale was retrieved successfully."

Worried friends confirmed the Mossman thrillseeker remained in a critical condition in an induced coma at Townsville Hospital last night.

He is believed to have broken his pelvis and two vertebrae, among other bones, and to have suffered spinal injuries.

"It’s rocked everyone," Tully Skydiving Club president Gavin Downes said. "The big thing now is for him to wake up."

He defended Mr McCorkindale, the day after video footage emerged of the Mossman man landing in bushes after a base jump, and described it as a reprieve from death.

"He’s knows what he’s doing," he said. "He’s been skydiving with the club about four years and went to America to do a course when he decided to take up base jumping."

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