Simon Cowell breaks his back after falling off his new electric trail bike

A source told The Mirror: 'Simon 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.'

Discussing the TV star's recovery, another source told The Sun Simon had suffered 'three breaks in his back' and it could take 'several weeks' before it is know if Simon will have any long lasting effects from the fall.

They said: 'It'll be several weeks for the bruising and swelling to go down and then we'll know how serious the lasting effects could be.

'He's lucky to be even in the state he is in with a metal rod in his back and multiple breaks... He could have been looking at a life in a wheelchair.'