The boom of the Southampton, UK, crane collapsed onto the container ship with the driver inside.
Jay Squibb said he would never be able to thank the pair enough after they scrambled up 30ft of twisted metal and damaged ship containers to reach him after the arm of his crane broke off, sending him plummeting through the air.
Michael Hughes and David Pearce ignored calls not to make the dangerous attempt – instead reaching the dad-of-two and giving vital first aid while waiting for paramedics at Southampton docks.
Jay, 34, suffered serious neck injuries, lacerations to his arms and legs and a smashed knee in the accident. He is still undergoing physiotherapy on his knee and has been left with differences to his voice because of his injuries.
Dick Wilkinson, secretary of The Royal Humane Society, said: “This courageous pair had been told there was no point trying to save Mr Squibb, as he would certainly have been killed in this horrific accident.
“Nevertheless, they put their own lives in jeopardy to clamber up to reach the mangled crane cab, perched precariously on a slippery stack of containers 30ft above deck level, and 80ft above sea level.
“They gave first aid to Mr Squibb until emergency services could arrive. Without them, he might never have been rescued and any delay could have resulted in his death.”
The pair are expected to receive their award later this summer.