The actor, 38, had been exploring the Khun Si Falls on the island of Koh Samui when the accident occurred, leaving him in need of complete knee reconstruction.
He was trapped in the rock pool for an agonising 72 hours and has since confessed: 'I'm lucky to be alive.'
Mr Nicholls, who shot to fame as Joe Wicks on the BBC soap, had been exploring the jungle when he plummeted from the top of the waterfall - where he is thought to have been taking a selfie - leaving him unable to move.
Footage has emerged of Mr Nicholls crying out in pain before emergency services stretcher him to safety - although it took two hours to arrive at International Koh Samui Hospital, due to his remote location.
Emergency crews found the actor on Monday after a three-day search of the wilderness.
He was only discovered after a local villager alerted raised the alarm having seen the actor's abandoned motorbike.
When he was found, he was semi-conscious and suffering from hypothermia as well as a tropical infection picked up from his untreated wounds. He had also broken his leg.
But his ordeal continued when he was forced to transfer to a different clinic almost immediately, after doctors on the island attempted to charge £13,000 a night to treat him.
A source further confirmed that the surgery will cost £90,000 in Koh Samui - with the British Embassy currently planning to fly him to the mainland to decide whether he needs surgery immediately, or can be flown back to the UK.
Speaking of the near-death experience to The Sun from hospital, Paul explained that he had not been lost, but his phone had stopped working after it plunged into the water - making him unable to tell anyone of his whereabouts.
He admitted: 'I am lucky to be alive. It took such a long time to find me. It's an understatement to say it wasn't a great situation.'
Detailing more of his injuries, which left him in unbearable pain, he explained: 'I've got a broken leg and I'm missing a kneecap. It needs complete reconstruction.'
Speaking of the near-death experience to The Sun from hospital, Paul explained that he had not been lost, but his phone had stopped working after it plunged into the water - making him unable to tell anyone of his whereabouts.
He admitted: 'I am lucky to be alive. It took such a long time to find me. It's an understatement to say it wasn't a great situation.'
Detailing more of his injuries, which left him in unbearable pain, he explained: 'I've got a broken leg and I'm missing a kneecap. It needs complete reconstruction.'
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