He suffered a devastating electric bike injury back in August that broke his back and left him bed ridden for months.
But Simon Cowell looked fit and happy on Sunday when he took his girlfriend Lauren Silverman and their seven-year-old son Eric out for a Mother’s Day bike ride in Malibu.
The 61-year-old America’s Got Talent judge even felt comfortable enough to take another go on an electric bike despite his past bad experience.
Like it never happened: Simon Cowell, 61, looked to be in great spirits while on a bike ride with his girlfriend Lauren Silverman and their son Eric, seven, despite breaking his back in August
Simon and his family were all dressed casually for their sunny ride by the beach.
He initially wore a black puffer jacket to guard against the sea breeze, though he stripped won later to a pale pink T-shirt.
The former American Idol judge also had on white shorts with black trainers.
His girlfriend Lauren looked similarly casual in a plain white T-shirt and dark jeans with her dark hair tied back in a ponytail.
No fuss: Simon and his family were all dressed casually for their sunny ride by the beach
Chilly: He initially wore a black puffer jacket to guard against the sea breeze, though he stripped won later to a pale pink T-shirt
Relaxed: The former American Idol judge also had on white shorts with black trainers
Comfortable: His girlfriend Lauren looked similarly casual in a plain white T-shirt and dark jeans with her dark hair tied back in a ponytail
Safety first: The adults didn’t seem concerned with helmets, but Simon’s son Eric was outfitted with an olive-colored bike helmet
The adults didn’t seem concerned with helmets, but Simon’s son Eric was outfitted with an olive-colored bike helmet.
He had on a black T-shirt and gray shorts while riding alongside his father.
Also joining the family was another woman.
It was remarkable that Simon was able to ride a bike at all, much less that he opted for an electric bike after he broke his back on one in August and was bedridden for months while recovering.
The accident happened just steps from his Malibu home, as he crashed in the courtyard of the estate.
‘Simon has broken his back in a number of places’ a spokesperson said after the fall.
Simple: He had on a black T-shirt and gray shorts while riding alongside his father
Health scare: It was remarkable that Simon was able to ride a bike at all after he broke his back on another electric bike in August and was bedridden for months while recovering
Ouch: Simon had to undergo a six-hour surgery to have a rod inserted after the crash. ‘Some good advice… If you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time,’ he joked on social media at the time
Scary: Simon was with his girlfriend Lauren, their son Eric and her son from a previous relationship at the time of the accident, according to ABC News
Simon had to undergo a six-hour surgery to have a rod inserted after the crash.
He was at least doing well enough after the accident to share a short message on his social media accounts.
‘Some good advice… If you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time,’ he wrote ominously.
‘I have broken part of my back. Thank you to everyone for your kind messages. And a massive thank you to all the nurses and doctors. Some of the nicest people I have ever me.’
Simon was with his girlfriend Lauren, their son Eric and her son from a previous relationship at the time of the accident, according to ABC News.
Because of his injuries, the record executive was forced to miss out on the return of his series America’s Got Talent.
Bad news: In October, The Sun reported that Simon had taken a turn for the worse with complications from surgery to fuse two vertebrae that would leave him bedridden for six months
On pause: Because of his injuries, the record executive was forced to miss out on the return of his series America’s Got Talent
Making strides: However, he was still able to walk a bit around his home garden and to do some light physical therapy in a pool
In October, The Sun reported that Simon had taken a turn for the worse that would delay his recovery significantly.
He suffered complications from surgery to fuse to vertebrae, which required him to mostly stay in bed for six months.
At the time, he was reported to be on heavy painkillers and was too unwell to even record short promos for America’s Got Talent from home.
However, he was still able to walk a bit around his home garden and to do some light physical therapy in a pool.
Even worse: After his injury, he was reported to be on heavy painkillers and was too unwell to even record short promos for America’s Got Talent from home; seen in 2020
But by February of this year, Simon said he was doing considerably better and seemed to be in high spirits.
‘The first four weeks were the hardest,’ he recalled to ET in that month. ‘Because you feel kind of helpless, and it was the first time in my life I’ve ever felt helpless. Then you’re bored and frustrated, and I was in so much pain, if I’m being honest with you.’
As he described it, the pain disappeared miraculously weeks after recovery.
‘Just like the doctor said, you hit this kinda seven, eight-week mark, and it’s like it never happened. I mean, literally like that, so there were a lot of pluses,’ he continued.
Healed: He told ET that his pain disappeared almost miraculously after the ‘seven, eight-week mark’; publicity photo for America’s Got Talent
The incident even spurred him on to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
‘I’m healthier now than I was a year ago because of this back injury. One of the things you’ve got do is so much exercise, to kind of, like, heal,’ he explained. ‘So I have to walk, like, five, 10 miles a day, so I actually feel better than I did a year ago.’
The best side-effect of his injury might have been how it strengthened his relationship with his son.
‘I never would’ve had this kinda time with Eric before,’ Simon admitted. ‘He was amazing, because I was very embarrassed when I got home from the hospital… And he came in, because I’ve got all these metal rods in my back and screws and he went, “Dad, you look like Iron Man.” And I went, ‘Yeah, I’m like Iron Man, yeah.’
Good outcomes: He added that the incident led to him adopting a healthier lifestyle and getting more time to bond with his son Eric; seen April 18 in LA