Simon Cowell flashes a huge smile despite getting ‘lost’ during sun-soaked outing on his £8K e-bike – five years after breaking his back in horror cycle crash

On a sunny day in Central London, Simon Cowell displayed a broad grin even though he seemed to have gotten lost while riding his expensive electric bike worth around £8,000.

65-year-old music industry titan was unexpectedly seen pedaling through bustling city roads on a bicycle, pausing for conversation with a stunned admirer outside a pub.

In 2020, Simon, who had suffered a broken back following a fall from a similar type of model, was dressed in a black puffy coat and shorts. He also donned sunglasses to protect his eyes.

Overwhelmed with excitement, I found myself in a whirlwind as I spotted a familiar figure on my daily commute – none other than the esteemed judge from Britain’s Got Talent! Pedaling furiously, I couldn’t help but wonder if he felt even a smidgen of the adrenaline I was experiencing while navigating through the bustling traffic. Intrigued and starstruck, I just had to pull over and inquire, “Are you okay cycling amidst all this chaos?

Calm under pressure, Simon jokingly replied, ‘I took a wrong turn, but I’ll make it faster.’ Assuring them of his safety, he continued on his trip.

To be completely honest, I, a diehard fan, can’t help but reflect on those harrowing moments from five years back when my beloved idol was involved in that near-fatal crash. Just this month, he bravely shared his deepest fears about possibly never being able to walk again. It’s times like these I truly appreciate the strength and resilience of our favorite stars.

In a heart-pounding twist, I found myself tumbling off an electric bike while experimenting with this marvel of technology right in my own Malibu, California abode.

Ever since that fateful accident left me reeling, I’ve had to endure extensive surgeries – one of which involved the insertion of a sturdy metal rod into my spine to provide much-needed support. In the years following, I’ve completely revamped my lifestyle, making conscious decisions for my health and wellbeing.

Currently, Simon is shedding light on the catastrophic consequences of the accident. He disclosed that his surgeon remains uncertain about the possibility of healing his spine completely, given the gravity of the damage.

During an interview with Elizabeth Day for the How To Fail podcast, Simon shared that he was close to losing his life in the accident, and his surgeon had cautioned him about the possibility of not being able to walk ever again.

He disclosed: “He displayed the X-ray and remarked, ‘To be honest with you, Simon, I’m uncertain if I can repair this situation. Consequently, it seems unlikely that you’ll be able to walk, and additionally, the surgery might last up to 11 hours.’

‘They pointed out the inevitable risk, and in that instant, all I could focus on was my loved ones and our well-being. It became clear then that health is paramount and we should avoid reckless actions.’

Previously, the judge from X Factor expressed that the devastating incident served as a significant “eye-opener” regarding his reckless way of living, urging him to minimize risk-taking in the future.

‘It was a wake-up moment, which is I’m crazy,’ he explained. 

‘The incident seemed destined, as I believed myself to be in good shape. However, following the required physical therapy sessions, even just walking quickly became challenging, leaving me virtually immobile. This prompted me to walk more, and I found myself in a state of distress, thinking ”oh dear, I was in a truly difficult situation”. ‘

As I looked back at that fateful moment, I found myself being hurled off my electric bike, a result of an overly enthusiastic wheelie triggered by the bike’s powerful throttle. In that instant, I was certain – my back was broken.

He excitedly brought it over from England and eagerly hopped behind the wheel. In the driveway, his son was present, as he gave the accelerator a push, the vehicle leaped into an enormous wheelie, launching him about 7-8 feet high in the air, according to his account.

Upon landing, I found myself flat on my back, and instantly, a thought crossed my mind: “Oh no, I believe I’ve fractured my spine.” This was due to the immediate sensation I felt.

The initial action I took was asking if I could move my hands, and thankfully I could. Next, I asked about moving my feet, and again, it was possible. So far, so good.

Despite the initial concern that the accident might leave him paralyzed, Simon has fully recuperated and claims he’s even more vigorous than he was prior to the collision.

Since then, he’s lost approximately seven pounds (three stone) and has been gradually giving up smoking. At its peak, his daily cigarette consumption reached an astounding 80.

2023 saw him share with The Sun his profound perspective shift: “I faced the possibility of spending the remainder of my life confined to a wheelchair. This experience has granted me an entirely unique viewpoint on life, one that’s decidedly optimistic.

‘It hurt – trust me – when it happened, but good things happened off the back of it.’

Simon came to understand that his health was far more valuable than anything else, prompting him to make substantial changes in his lifestyle in search of a healthier work-life equilibrium.

Due to the accident, he shifted his attention towards his family life with partner Lauren Silverman and their 11-year-old son Eric. He also reduced his workload during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to 2017, Simon used to smoke as many as 80 cigarettes daily. However, following an incident where he fell down the stairs at his London residence, he significantly cut down his smoking habit and now only smokes two cigarettes per day.

He used to work through the entire night, but he now refuses to work past 6pm or on his days off.

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2025-06-23 03:07