Simon Cowell has revealed he was ‘so close’ to spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair after a horror electric bike accident three years ago.

The Britain’s Got Talent judge, 63, gave an insight into his health and lifestyle overhaul and said the accident gave him a ‘completely different outlook on life’.

He has since shed three stone and has gradually ditched smoking over the years, which saw him have 80 cigarettes a day at the height of his habit.

In August 2020, Simon was almost left paralysed after he broke his back in several places after falling from an electric bike he was testing at his Malibu home.

He underwent six hours of surgery, including having a metal rod put in his back, and said he felt ‘completely helpless’ after the accident in a new interview.

Shock: Simon Cowell has revealed he was ‘so close’ to spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair after a horror electric bike accident three years ago

Habits: Simon (pictured in August 2015) has since shed three stone and has gradually ditched his 80 cigarettes a day smoking habit over the years

He told The Sun: ‘I was so close to living the rest of my life in a wheelchair, it gives you a completely different outlook on life. In a positive way.

‘It hurt – trust me – when it ­happened, but good things happened off the back of it.’

Simon said it led him to realise his health was ‘more important’ than anything else and he completely overhauled his lifestyle to find a better work-life balance.

He has since shed three stone and recently left fans shocked by his changing appearance, but insisted he has never had a facelift.

Simon said he also gave up smoking in March after catching laryngitis and he is now vaping in a bid to give up the vice.

‘I am now vaping, so I am not quite out of the woods, but I have not had a cigarette in about three or four weeks,’ he said.

Simon previously smoked up to 80 cigarettes per day before cutting down to just two each day in 2017 after falling down the stairs of his London home.

Simon went on to explain that while he used to work through the entire night, he now refuses to work past 6pm or on his days off.

The music mogul is engaged to Lauren Silverman and the pair share a son Eric, nine, while the socialite, 45, also has a son Adam, 17, with her entrepreneur ex Andrew Silverman.

Speaking about his family life, Simon said he decided he didn’t want to give up more time with his son Eric in favour of work after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Shock: In August 2020, Simon was almost left paralysed after he broke his back in several places after falling from an electric bike he was testing at his Malibu home

Health: Simon (pictured in 2019) said it led him to realise his health was ‘more important’ than anything else and he completely overhauled his lifestyle to find a better work-life balance

He explained: ‘Maybe it’s because of the ­pandemic, because obviously I spent so much time with Eric, and I loved spending that time with him, I thought afterwards, “I don’t want to change that now”.’

Simon is returning to screens on Saturday night for the latest series of Britain’s Got Talent and he gave an insight into what it is like working on the judging panel.

He said he and fellow judges Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli are left ’emotionally drained’ after hearing the contestants’ stories at auditions and usually go straight to bed after the long days filming.

The first episode of the new series will air on April 15 at 8pm, followed by the second episode on Sunday, April 16.