A MAN celebrating his 70th birthday with a parachute jump died from a heart attack as he leapt from the plane on the Gold Coast today.

The Courier-Mail reports the man was doing a tandem jump with Gold Coast Sky Dives when he died about 10.15am.

It is understood the shock of leaping from the plane caused the heart attack.

He landed at North Kirra Beach with his family watching on.

His buddy jumper and lifeguards tried to revive him but he was pronounced dead at the scene.