Simon Cowell needed six hours of emergency surgery after breaking his back - in an accident which could have left him paralysed.
He missed snapping his spinal cord “by a centimetre” and had six hours of surgery.
The X Factor supremo, 60, suffered a serious fall from a new electric bike he was testing at his house in Malibu on Saturday.
But a close friend told the Mirror although his back was broken in several places and it was very serious, he narrowly missed breaking his spinal cord “by a centimetre” which would may have meant he was unable to walk again.
Cowell, who was with his family at the time, badly damaged his back in the fall and was taken to hospital where he had six hours of emergency surgery on Saturday night.
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A source close to Cowell said: “I spoke to him before the surgery and he was in incredible, ridiculous amounts of pain and also in shock. His back was broke in several places, but he is actually very lucky.
“He 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.
“He was in surgery for six hours and they had to put a metal rod in his back and fix a number of things. He is recovering in hospital now and we expect him to be there for a few days and then he will take things from there.
“It is too early to say when he will be back on TV.”
Cowell had been set to shoot the first live America's Got Talent show on Tuesday at Universal Studios to kick off the series' 15th season but will now be resting for the foreseeable future, first in hospital, and then at home.
A statement from Cowell's spokesman confirmed he broke his back and had surgery to fix it.
The spokesman 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.
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“He was taken to hospital where they operated overnight, he’s under observation and is doing fine.”
Cowell had been at home with his six-year-old son Eric and his partner Lauren Silverman when the accident happened.
He started cycling to improve his fitness after he ended up in hospital following a previous fall at home three years ago.
He vowed to take up exercise and embark on a healthier lifestyle after he suffered a frightening fall at home in London in October 2017.
The X Factor boss had to be stretchered out of his London mansion by paramedics who came to his aid when he fell down his stairs on the way to the kitchen in the early hours of the morning.
Simon said the terrifying incident was a “wake up call” that made him change his ways from staying up working all night.
“They think I fainted because I had low blood pressure and so I have got to take really good care of myself to sort that out,” he revealed.
“I’m OK now. In a way, it was a wake-up call. It wasn’t the end of the world – but a bit embarrassing.”
After he made a full recovery, Simon was seen whizzing round the streets of Los Angeles on one of the two 28mph battery powered bikes he purchased to kick-start his fitness regime.
He splashed out £2,000 on each bike, leaving one in London and taking the other to his second home in the States.
He was also spotted out bike riding in lockdown with Lauren and their son Eric.
The trio were spotted enjoying a family outing in Malibu on their bikes with Simon wearing a face mask along with his signature aviator sunglasses.
And it was whilst playing around on a new bike that he had his accident.
Cowell has been showing signs of slowing down his hectic lifestyle in recent months, concentrating on his TV commitments and less on music.
Just last month it emerged that Cowell has bought Sony Music Entertainment's stake in TV programmes including Britain's Got Talent and The X Factor.
The move sees the music mogul gain ownership of all the international versions of The X Factor and Got Talent programmes.
The Got Talent format airs in 76 markets, while The X Factor is broadcast in more than 130 territories.
Sony Music's share of the venture has transferred to Syco Entertainment, a company solely owned by Cowell.
Filming on the next stage of this year's Britain's Got Talent – the semi-finals and final - has been postponed because of the coronavirus crisis but ITV planned to continue the series in the Autumn schedule.
Simon Cowell’s friends in the celebrity world lined up to send him get well soon wishes after his back operation.
BGT judge Amanda Holden said: “I’ve been thinking about my dear friend all day and luckily I’m able to write that he’s had his operation and he’s doing really well. My family and I wish you a speedy recovery and send you, Lauren and Eric all our love.”
Cowell’s former fellow American Idol judge Paula Abdul said: “Keeping Simon Cowell in my heart and thoughts and praying for a speedy recovery.”
Good Morning Britain host and friend of Cowell Piers Morgan said: “Sounds a very nasty accident. I wish Simon a successful operation and a full & speedy recovery.”
