Simon Cowell warns first-time riders of electric bike after accident almost paralyzed him: 'Read the manual'
Simon Cowell, on Sunday night, August 9, wrote a tweet hours post breaking his back after performing a wheelie on his new $8,500 electric bike. The 60-year-old, who reportedly underwent six hours of grueling surgery to insert a metal rod into his spine on Saturday, August 8, gave some "good advice" to his followers on what to do when you ride the bike for the first time.
"Some good advice... If you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time." He went on: "I have broken part of my back. Thank you to everyone for your kind messages," Cowell wrote. He followed his tweet with another thanking the hospital staff: "And a massive thank you to all the nurses and doctors. Some of the nicest people I have ever met. Stay safe everyone Simon."
The media mogul fell from his CAB Recon electric bike on Saturday, which can reach a top speed of 60mph in just seconds and is considered as one of the most powerful models on the market. Reports state that Cowell sustained the injury after he was "surprised by the power" of the bike while performing a wheelie. He reportedly immediately knew that he "was in trouble." The particular bike can reach "0-50mph in under 5 seconds."
It was earlier reported that Cowell had come very close to being paralyzed in the fall, which occurred in the courtyard of his LA home. His six-year-old son Eric and his 14-year-old stepson Adam were reportedly present with him when the incident occurred. Shortly after the accident, Cowell's girlfriend and the mother of his son Eric, Lauren Silverman, reportedly visited him in the hospital.
A family friend, while talking to the Daily Mail, reportedly said that Cowell was in "shock and massive amounts of pain" after the accident. The insider told the outlet: "Lauren went with him to the hospital and has been allowed in briefly to see him. He's doing OK in the circumstances." He reportedly did not lose consciousness after the fall and was able to talk from his hospital bed. He also asked for his iPad to respond to multiple messages pouring in from his loved ones.
While another source told The Mirror how the medial mogul fell, saying: "Simon 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." A third source told The Sun that Simon suffered at least "three breaks on his back" and that it could take "several weeks" before it is known whether he will have any long-lasting adverse effects from it. "It'll be several weeks for the bruising and swelling to go down and then we'll know how serious the lasting effects could be," the source said.
"He's lucky to be even in the state he is in with a metal rod in his back and multiple breaks... He could have been looking at a life in a wheelchair," they added.