Goals from Gary Hooper and Matty Sparrow in the final 10 minutes secured a 2-2 draw with Reading on Tuesday night, after the Iron trailed by two goals.
The win puts them on to 51 points, meaning they cannot now be relegated. Sheffield Wednesday, Crystal Palace and Watford are scrapping to avoid joining Peterborough United and Plymouth Argyle in dropping to League One.
Adkins hailed the spirit of his side, comparing survival to swimming the English Channel, cycling the Tour de France then climbing Mount Everest.
"I am very pleased, it's a fantastic group of lads. Over the course of the season we have set out what we hoped to do," he said.
"It is a fantastic achievement. It's like swimming the Channel, doing the Tour De France and then climbing Everest.
"It's a fantastic achievement. It's about the team. Our strongest asset is the team. We have assembled a talented group of players.
"You are going to get your beatings, but you have to keep striving to move on. I think unbelievable credit goes to the team."
Brian McDermott, the Reading boss, felt the Iron's captain Cliff Byrne should have been sent off for the foul on Jobi McAnuff that lead to a penalty for the visitors. Gylfi Sigurdsson converted from 12 yards, adding to Alex Pearce's opening goal, to put the Royals two goals up shortly after the hour mark.
"It was an obvious red card. I don't like seeing players sent off but it beggars belief," McDermott said
"Having said that we were 2-0 up and on another day we see that out. It is a tough place to come to. They got their point, they have survived, good luck to them."