Britain’s Got Talent star Julia Carlile says she owes Simon Cowell “everything” after he paid for her back operation.
The 17-year-old – whose dance group MerseyGirls went through to the semi-final in last night’s BGT: The Champions – first dazzled Simon on the show two years ago.
Then she revealed she needed surgery in the US for spine condition scoliosis.
Simon, 59, paid £175,000 for pioneering vertebral body tethering – where screws were fixed to a cord in her back.
The op is not available on the NHS. If she’d had metal rods inserted it would have ended her career.
Julia said after the show: “Simon genuinely cares. He spoke to me before and after the performance. I tell him he’s changed my life because he has.
"He says I’ve changed his life but I don’t know how – I’m just a normal girl. We have this amazing connection.
"I feel no pain on stage. I’m so lucky and thankful to Simon.”
The op at St Peter’s Hospital, New Jersey, meant breaking seven ribs.
Julia, from Liverpool, said: “I was in so much pain, but so happy to have the surgery. Simon sent a letter straight after to wish me a speedy recovery.”
She added: “I cried before I went on stage and cried when we won – it was the most emotional night. We were so proud of ourselves.”
- BGT: The Champions next Saturday ITV
