Simon Cowell forced to miss filming as he’s set to undergo surgery following fears he’d ‘never walk again’

Simon Cowell is reportedly preparing to undergo back surgery, six years after a serious e-bike crash left him fearing he might never walk again.

TMZ claims the 66-year-old music mogul’s upcoming procedure could keep him away from America’s Got Talent for several weeks.

The 2020 accident became the catalyst for Simon Cowell’s wider health and lifestyle overhaul. He reassessed his working routine, put more emphasis on his family and committed to improving his fitness during his recovery.

Simon will miss weeks of auditions (Credit: Admedia Photo / SplashNews.com)

Simon Cowell feared he might never walk again

Simon suffered a broken back after trying out an electric bike in the driveway of his Malibu home. He has explained that the bike surged upwards when he used the throttle, sending him around seven or eight feet into the air.

He knew something was seriously wrong as soon as he hit the ground. However, he discovered that he could still move both his hands and feet.

Doctors then operated on his back, using a metal rod to help support the damaged area. Simon later revealed that his surgeon had warned him the injury could permanently affect his ability to walk.

Speaking to Elizabeth Day on the How To Fail podcast, he recalled his surgeon telling him: “I don’t know if I can fix this, which means you probably won’t walk and secondly, the operation could take 11 hours.”

Simon said the risks immediately made him think about his loved ones. He added: “They said the obvious – it could go wrong – and all I could think about was my family and everything. In that moment you kind of realise the most important thing is your health and don’t do stupid things.”

How the e-bike crash changed Simon’s lifestyle

Physiotherapy became a major part of Simon’s recovery as he worked on walking and regaining his mobility. The former X Factor judge later called the accident a wake-up call after years of pushing himself through a demanding work schedule.

He subsequently changed how he approached both his health and his career. Simon no longer works through the night and has said he will not work beyond 6pm or give up his days off.

Those boundaries have allowed him to devote more time to his partner Lauren Silverman and their son Eric. Simon has said the experience made him recognise the importance of his health and family life.

His physical transformation also included losing three stone. Meanwhile, he gradually cut back on smoking after his habit had reportedly reached as many as 80 cigarettes a day at its peak.

Speaking to The Sun in 2023, Simon reflected on how close he came to losing his mobility. He said: “I was so close to living the rest of my life in a wheelchair, it gives you a completely different outlook on life. In a positive way.”

He added that although the injury caused significant pain, positive changes followed it. Simon has also said he now feels fitter than he did before the crash.

TMZ’s latest claim suggests the reported back operation could now require another temporary break from his America’s Got Talent commitments.

Read more: Simon Cowell fans stunned by his and Lauren Silverman’s appearances as she shares Malibu photos

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