Energetic Terry Stannard sprung into action to show his godson how to climb trees but fell 13ft fracturing his back in three places.
Terry, 50, of Bootham Road, Billericay, suffered severe back injuries during the accident in Epsom Woods in Surrey.
His godson Teddy Western, six, and his mother Jane called an ambulance and later left him to guide paramedics to the correct spot.
Four teenagers stayed with him after the accident and two of them even helped carry him half a mile to a waiting ambulance which took him to hospital.
He said: "Without their help the paramedics wouldn't have been able to get me out of the woods.
"I want to say a big thank you to all of them - the teens and the paramedics. I go back to Epsom General hospital next month for a follow-up appointment and I would really like to thank them in person.
"If the teenagers had not helped, the ambulance would have had to call for more assistance which would have taken another ambulance off the road."
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