Simon Cowell needed six hours of surgery after breaking his back in a bike accident in Malibu, according to reports.
The 60-year-old star is said to have suffered numerous fractures after falling off his new electric bike he was testing out.
A close friend has claimed to The Mirror that although Simon’s back was broken in several places, he narrowly missed breaking his spinal cord “by a centimetre” which would may have meant he was unable to walk again.
A source told the publication: “I spoke to him before the surgery and he was in incredible, ridiculous amounts of pain and also in shock. His back was broke in several places, but he is actually very lucky.
“He fell flat on his back and the doctors say the impact missed his spinal cord by about a centimetre and it could have been a lot, lot more serious.
Simon Cowell needed six hours of surgery after breaking his back in a bike accident in Malibu (Image: ITV)
“He was in surgery for six hours and they had to put a metal rod in his back and fix a number of things. He is recovering in hospital now and we expect him to be there for a few days and then he will take things from there.
“It is too early to say when he will be back on TV.”
The X Factor guru badly damaged his back in the fall and was taken to hospital where he had emergency surgery on Saturday night.
He had been set to record first live America’s Got Talent show on Tuesday at Universal Studios but will now be resting for the foreseeable future; first in hospital and then at home wth his family.
The music mogul was rushed to hospital after he fell flat on his back while testing out an electric bike in Malibu on Saturday (Image: NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
A statement from Simon’s representative confirmed he broke his back and had surgery to fix it.
The spokesman said: “Simon has broken his back in a number of places in a fall from his bike whilst testing a new electric bike in the courtyard of his home in Malibu with his family.
“He was taken to hospital where they operated overnight, he’s under observation and is doing fine.”
The dad of one had been at home with his six-year-old son Eric and his partner Lauren Silverman when the accident happened.
A statement from Simon’s representative confirmed he broke his back and had surgery to fix it (Image: PA)
He started cycling to improve his fitness after he ended up in hospital following a previous fall at home in London back in 2017.
Simon said the terrifying incident was a “wake up call” that made him change his ways from staying up working all night.
He told The Sun at the time: “They think I fainted because I had low blood pressure and so I have got to take really good care of myself to sort that out.
“I’m OK now. In a way, it was a wake-up call. It wasn’t the end of the world – but a bit embarrassing.
Simon had been set to record first live America’s Got Talent show on Tuesday (Image: Getty Images)
“If I’m honest with you, I was probably over-tired.”
After making a full recovery, the father of one was seen cycling round the streets of LA on one of his two 28mph battery powered bikes he bought to kick-start his fitness regime.
The Britain’s Got Talent and X Factor guru reportedly splashed out £2,000 on each bike, leaving one in London and taking the other to his second home across the pond.
Simon revealed earlier this year that he had shed a whooping four stone since his horror fall.
He was spotted whizzing around the streets on his bike during coronavirus lockdown with his partner Lauren Silverman and their son Eric, six.
The family were spotted enjoying a day out in Malibu on their bikes with Simon wearing a face mask along with a pair of his trademark aviator sunglasses.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
