Simon Cowell is ‘lucky to be alive’ after he was sent flying over the handlebars of his e-bike in his second horror crash in 18 months, reports have said.
The 62-year-old music mogul was rushed to hospital near his west London home on Thursday with suspected concussion, facial cuts and a broken arm after he slammed into the road at 20mph while not wearing a helmet.
The tycoon was previously left with a broken back after a horror Swind EB-01 bike e-bike crash in Malibu in August 2020.
In the latest accident, the ‘blood-soaked’ tycoon had been riding a Das Spitzing Evolution S-Pedelec bike, which has a basic price of €9499 (£7921) and has top speeds of 27mph.
Scary: Simon Cowell is reportedly ‘lucky to be alive’ after another terrifying e-bike crash sent him flying over the handlebars at 20mph (pictured riding last Wednesday – the day before the crash near his west London home)
Cowell was attended to by passersby before paramedics arrived, while three onlookers also stopped oncoming traffic.
Cowell was released from hospital the same evening with a cast on his arm and has been ordered to rest up.
A source told The Sun: ‘Simon is lucky to be alive. He was pedalling along, with his electric motor on, when the wheels suddenly went from under him after hitting a wet patch.
‘He slipped and went flying over the handlebars into the middle of the road.’
Recovering: The 62-year-old music mogul was rushed to hospital near his London home on Thursday with suspected concussion, facial cuts and a broken arm
WHAT IS AN E-BIKE?
An e-bike is a regular bike with the addition of a battery-powered motor. When you pedal, the motor kicks in to inject extra power up to a maximum speed of 15mph – the legal limit.
Any faster than that and you’ll have to go under your own steam.
E-bikes have gears and brakes. You are in full control of the motor and can switch it on and off as often as you like.
There’s no need to worry about the battery running out, as if it does, you can just keep on riding like you would a normal bike.
Simon was riding a a Das Spitzing Evolution S-Pedelec bike, which costs upwards of £7921 and has top speeds of 27 miles per hour.
The bike has been described as ‘one for professionals’ as a lighter frame and battery result in no limits when riding uphill or downhill.
The power pack has an 120Nm torque which provides up to 550% support for your own pedalling performance on request.
The combination of FOX suspension with up to 160 mm travel on the front and rear wheels and 650+ tyres provides more ease with pedalling uphill.
On the move: Simon was riding a a Das Spitzing Evolution S-Pedelec bike, which costs upwards of £7921 and has top speeds of 27 miles per hour (stock image)
The source added that blood was gushing from his face, likening him to something from the Phantom of the Opera.
Three onlookers stopped the traffic so he wouldn’t get run over.
After being taken in an ambulance to hospital, the father-of-one was X-rayed and eventually released with rest orders – and has since been seen with a lime green cast up to his shoulder.
Cowell’s seven-year-old son Eric, who he shares with fiancée Lauren Silverman, reportedly chose his dad’s cast and has drawn on their two dogs, Squiddly and Diddly.
‘Despite this being his second great escape, Simon insists he’s not ditching the bike – but he will start wearing a helmet,’ the source concluded.
MailOnline has reached out to Simon’s representatives for comment.
Shocking: Cowell was attended to by passersby before paramedics arrived, while three onlookers also stopped oncoming traffic
In August 2020, Cowell fell off his e-bike in Malibu and had to undergo back surgery.
The media mogul was said to be considering suing the manufacturers, Swindon Powertrain.
A spokesperson for the star told MailOnline at the time: ‘Simon is understandably extremely concerned for other peoples’ safety in relation to this bike.
‘We have been pressing the manufacturers about this and will continue to press them, including in relation to the claims of the former member of staff.’
A source said: ‘Simon is lucky to be alive. He was pedalling along, with his electric motor on, when the wheels suddenly went from under him after hitting a wet patch’
The reports came as a whistleblower from the manufacturers claimed the Swind EB-01 bike, which can reach up to 60mph and is banned on public roads in the UK, should not be used without specialist training.
Cowell did not follow through with the legal action and later revealed the ordeal only encouraged him to exercise even more, and, despite downgrading his bike to something a little more sedate, he told his ex girlfriend Terri Seymour on ExtraTV he still does ‘ten miles a day.’
‘My most creative time is now when I cycle, because I cycle even though it’s an e-bike. I still got to pedal and I do about ten miles a day… even though I had an accident on one.
‘That was more an electric motorbike – these are called pedal-assist bikes and they’re brilliant,’ he explained.
Concerns: In August 2020, Cowell crashed while riding a different bike – the Swind EB-01 bike, which can reach up to 60mph and is banned on public roads in the UK (stock image)
Cowell was adamant he wasn’t nervous about getting back on a bike, even though he was only ‘a millimetre’ away from being paralysed.
‘That expression ‘get back on your bike,’ with me, it was literal. I feel better than I did because I exercise so much more.
‘Honestly, if I could rewind, I would have gone through the whole thing again. Just because I feel better now. Yeah, even though it hurt like hell at the time,’ he admitted.
The star overhauled his lifestyle after breaking his back and now has regular sleeping and exercise habits, and he has lost more than 20lbs.
He suffered complications from surgery to fuse to vertebrae, which required him to mostly stay in bed for six months.
Caring: Simon’s seven-year-old son Eric, who he shares with fiancée Lauren Silverman, reportedly chose his dad’s cast and has drawn their two dogs, Squiddly and Diddly (pictured August 2018)
As well as now walking 40 miles a week, The X Factor boss rearranged his work schedule to ensure he only starts business meetings after 9am rather than hold conferences into the early hours of the morning like he used to.
A source previously MailOnline: ‘Simon said how he hasn’t worn trainers as much as this in 20 years. He feels fitter than ever before and is keeping to a normal routine rather than being on the phone until into the early hours of the morning.
As part of his life overhaul, Cowell proposed to his long-term girlfriend Lauren Silverman, 44, on Christmas Eve in Barbados.
Despite his previous staunch vows to never walk up the aisle, an insider previously claimed the past two years – in which the global pandemic hit and the star broke his back – have made Cowell change his stance.
Healthy lifestyle: Simon has overhauled his lifestyle since breaking his back in 2020, ditching his heavy drinking and embarking on a diet and fitness plan to lose 20Ibs (pictured right in September 2018)
The source told People: ‘They have fun together, as well as being each other’s rock. They are both passionate but really do bring out the very best in each other. As a family, they all have such an incredible bond.
‘A lot of things have happened in the last few years and just like for everyone else in the world, these things have all been a reminder about what is precious to them.’
Cowell may have once branded marriage ‘boring’, but according to a new report, it was during lockdown that something shifted with Lauren.
The brunette beauty is said to have urged him to commit to their family life and ‘prioritise the present’ instead of spending time with his famous exes.
A friend told The Sun that ‘no one is more shocked about the change in Simon these past few years than Simon’, yet was told by Lauren that she needed a ‘commitment to family life’.
They explained: ‘Not surprisingly, she didn’t appreciate Simon hanging out and holidaying with his harem of exes, particularly Sinitta who was forever lurking in the shadows.
‘Simon was told in no uncertain terms that it was him or his exes — Sinitta, Terri Seymour and Jackie St Clair — and, wisely, chose to prioritise his present and future, not his past.’
Wedding bells: As part of his life overhaul, Simon proposed to his long-term girlfriend Lauren Silverman, 44, on Christmas Eve in Barbados (pictured in 2021)
