Simon Cowell breaks part of his back after electric bike fall
Simon Cowell has thanked nurses and doctors after undergoing six hours of surgery following a fall from a bike in which he broke "part of his back" in a number of places.
The X Factor supremo fell from a new electric bike he was testing at his house in Malibu.
The 60-year-old was taken to hospital where he had an operation on Saturday night, which involved a number of procedures including having a metal rod put in his back.
He tweeted: "Some good advice... If you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time. I have broken part of my back. Thank you to everyone for your kind messages".
A second message read: "And a massive thank you to all the nurses and doctors. Some of the nicest people I have ever met. Stay safe everyone Simon".
Cowell is recovering in hospital and it is understood that he will continue to do so for a few days.
A source said that while it is a bad injury, doctors said he had been very lucky.
A spokeswoman for Cowell said: "Simon has broken his back in a number of places in a fall from his bike whilst testing a new electric bike in the courtyard of his home in Malibu with his family."
She said he was taken to hospital, where he was operated on overnight, adding: "He's under observation and is doing fine."