Helicopter paramedic Mick Wilson has been remembered as a hero at his Sydney funeral.

That's how family and friends remembered the helicopter paramedic at his funeral at St James Anglican Church in central Sydney on Tuesday.

The 41-year-old from Gymea Bay died while saving two canyoners on Christmas Eve near Carrington Falls, southwest of Wollongong.

He was leaving a cliff face with his patient strapped to him to be winched up to a helicopter when something went wrong.

The pair were swept back into the cliff wall and Mr Wilson was caught between the patient and the rocks.

Mr Wilson, who had 15 years' experience, is the first NSW paramedic to have died on duty in more than 30 years.

Paying tribute to his colleague, Garth Thomson described Mr Wilson as a loving friend and an outstanding paramedic, part of the elite Special Casualty Access Team (SCAT).

'After Mick was injured on his last mission he continued to care for his patient,' Mr Thomson said.

'That's why Mick was there - to care for another man.'

Wife Kellie Wilson paid tribute to her husband and the father of her three young children, saying he died a hero.

'He was my soul mate, my protector, my confidant, my best friend,' Mrs Wilson told mourners at the church where many of the same people celebrated the couple's wedding in 1995.

'He completed me and made me a better person.'

Mrs Wilson, a nurse, thanked paramedics, her family and friends as well as the public for their support.

'I will be forever grateful to the actions of those who assisted Michael in the final moments and the ultimate tearful retrieval,' she said.

'It is no surprise to me that Michael courageously died laying his body on the line for his patient.

'A true hero in every sense of the word to the very end.

'We will love you forever.'

A long line of uniformed paramedics and police officers formed a guard of honour outside the church as colleagues from SCAT carried Mr Wilson's coffin into the church, draped in an Australian flag.

Hundreds packed out the church while hundreds more watched from TV screens outside.

After the service, two ambulance helicopters flew over the church as his coffin was carried out.

His brother Hadyn Wilson said the two canyoners he tried to rescue when he fell to his death shouldn't feel guilty.

'They should not feel any guilt for what has happened,' Mr Wilson said.

He acknowledged that people rescued in remote locations were often portrayed in the media as irresponsible.

'As a group (canyoners), are generally both competent and responsible,' he said.

'And I suspect the two canyoners involved are also feeling bad (at) this time.'

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell also paid tribute to Mr Wilson during a press conference in Sydney.

'It's tragic whenever any emergency worker loses their life,' Mr O'Farrell told reporters on Tuesday.

'It's a sad day but what we see is the health sector, the community, coming together to celebrate a life - a life given, in the end, in sacrifice for others.'

Mick Wilson is survived by Kellie and their children, Aliza, Grace and Hugo.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.