‘I came so close to living my life in a wheelchair’: Simon Cowell reveals how an e-bike accident led him to ditch his 80 cigarettes a day habit, as he shares health review insight
Simon Cowell has revealed he was ‘so close’ to spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair after a horrific electric bicycle accident three years ago.
The 63-year-old Britain’s Got Talent judge gave an insight into his health and lifestyle overhaul, saying the accident gave him a ‘completely different outlook on life’.
He has since shed three bricks and gradually dropped his 80 cigarettes a day over the years after vowing to find a better work-life balance.
In August 2020, Simon was nearly paralyzed after breaking his back in several places after falling off an electric bike he was testing at his home in Malibu.
He underwent six hours of surgery, including a metal bar in his back, and said in a new interview that he felt “completely helpless” after the accident.
Shock: Simon Cowell has revealed he was ‘so close’ to spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair after a horrific electric bicycle accident three years ago
Lifestyle: Simon (pictured in 2019) has since thrown three bricks and gradually dropped his 80 cigarettes a day smoking habit over the years after vowing to find a better work-life balance
He told The sun: “I was so close to living in a wheelchair for the rest of my life, iIt gives you a completely different outlook on life. In a positive way.
“It hurt—believe me—when it happened, but good things happened.”
Simon said it made him realize that his health was “more important” than anything else and that he took a complete look at his lifestyle to find a better work-life balance.
He has since thrown three bricks and recently left fans shocked by his changing looks but insisted he never had a facelift.
Simon said he also quit smoking in March after contracting strep throat and is now vaping in an attempt to give up the vice.
“I’m vaping now, so I’m not quite out of the woods yet, but I haven’t touched a cigarette in three or four weeks,” he said.
Simon previously smoked up to 80 cigarettes a day before dropping to just two a day in 2017 after falling down the stairs of his London home.
Simon went on to explain that while he used to work through the night, he now refuses to work past 6pm or on his days off.
The music mogul is engaged to Lauren Silverman and the couple share a son Eric, nine, while the socialite, 45, also has son Adam, 17, with her entrepreneur ex Andrew Silverman.
Talking about his family life, Simon said he decided he didn’t want to give up more time with his son Eric in favor of work after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Habits: Simon (pictured in August 2015) said he also quit smoking in March after contracting strep throat and is now vaping in an attempt to give up the vice
He explained, “Maybe it’s because of the pandemic because of course I’ve spent so much time with Eric and loved spending that time with him. Afterwards I thought: “I don’t want to change that now”.’
Simon returns to the screens on Saturday night for Britain’s Got Talent’s latest series and he gave an insight into what it’s like to work on the judging panel.
He said he and fellow judges Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli are “emotionally exhausted” after hearing the contestants’ stories during auditions and usually go straight to bed after the long days of filming.
The first episode of the new series is broadcast April 15 at 8 p.m., followed by the second episode on Sunday, April 16.