Paul Nicholls 'Lucky To Be Alive' After Being Trapped In Thai Waterfall For Three Days

Former ‘EastEnders’ star Paul Nicholls has been rescued after spending three days trapped at the foot of a Thai waterfall.

The soap actor was left with a broken leg and a smashed kneecap after plunging from the top of the jungle waterfall on the island of Koh Samui.

Paul was found semi-conscious while partially submerged in a rock pool, having been unable to move for three days.

He was also suffering from hypothermia, and hadn’t been able to find food during his ordeal. 

“I am lucky to be alive,” he told The Sun. 

“It took such a long time to find me. It’s an understatement to say it wasn’t a great situation … The problem was I couldn’t move to get out of there.

“I had a phone with me but I fell from such a height into the water it was irretrievable.”

He now faces reconstruction surgery on his knee and a huge medical bill of tens of thousands of pounds. 

“I’ve got a broken leg and I’m missing a kneecap. It needs complete reconstruction,” he said. 

According to the paper, medics demanded £13,000 a night to treat him, forcing him to move to a different hospital. 

Surgery in Thailand could cost him upwards of £90,000, with the British Embassy hoping to fly him home to save him the bill.

Last month, US tourist Geoffrey Maui, 28, died after falling from the same point.

Paul is best know for playing ‘EastEnders’ character Joe Wicks from 1996 to 1997, where he featured in a high-profile schizophrenia storyline.

He has also had roles in shows including ‘Secret Diary Of A Call Girl’, ‘Holby City’, ‘Law & Order: UK’ and ‘Harley Street’. 

Most recently, he was seen in Channel 4′s school-based drama ‘Ackely Bridge’ playing teacher Steve Bell.