St Kilda East man Eli Klein thanks rescuers following nasty fall at Werribee Gorge State Park

A Melbourne father who broke bones as he fell 15m down a Werribee gorge has hailed the rescuers who saved him as heroes.

Setting out on hike with his wife and some friends, St Kilda East man Eli Klein never thought he’d end up needing dozens of emergency services personnel to rescue him.

The self-described “couch potato” had embarked on a four-hour trek through the Werribee Gorge State Park when, 200m from the end of the track, he tumbled 10 to 15m down a steep embankment on Boxing Day.

The 42-year-old’s descent was stopped halfway down the hill as he became wedged in some scrub, breaking two bones in his foot.

“It was the most embarrassing day of my life,” he said. “My wife had to go searching for phone signal. I was stuck down there for five hours.”

Eli Klein, 42, has praised the care and effort emergency services personnel put into his rescue on December 26.

Paramedics and SES volunteers care for Eli after his fall.

Emergency services were called to the scene about 5pm, with the extraction completed by about 10.15pm.

But Mr Klein said the response to his situation was “phenomenal” with ambulance officers, SES personnel and firefighters working together to ensure his safety.

“They were all absolute angels,” he said.

“It was my first and hopefully last experience with emergency services but it was amazing. They were all so professional, kind and caring, I knew I was in good hands.”

Eli was winched up the hillside by SES volunteers from the Bacchus Marsh unit and carried out of the state park to a waiting helicopter.

After surgery, Eli Klein says his injuries are "healing well".

After four days in The Alfred hospital where he received surgery for his injuries, the St Kilda East father says he’s recovering well.

“I just really want to thank our emergency services, they really make an impact on lives. Without them I would have had a much more traumatic experience,” he said.

Werribee Gorge State Park has seen a number of high-profile rescues in recent years, including a man and a woman who were stranded on a 150m cliff face overnight.