A BYRON Bay woman who won international acclaim with her determination to surf despite a crippling spinal injury has died after undergoing surgery.

NewsCorp reports Pascale Honore's health had been deteriorating and she had spent about two months at Byron Bay hospital before undergoing surgery for a twisted bowel at Southport Hospital last week. Ms Honore passed away at the weekend. She was 52.

Ms Honore, who was born in Paris and had lived at Byron Bay for about two years after moving from Elliston in South Australia, shot to fame with the release of a mini-documentary describing the crash that left her paraplegic and how she realised her dream of surfing with the help of family friend Tyron Swan.

NewsCorp quoted David Beaty, Ms Honore's former partner with whom she had two sons, saying she was courageous and an inspiration.