Italian golfer Andrea Pavan sustained serious injuries after falling three floors down an empty elevator shaft at his private accommodation in South Africa. The 36-year-old was forced to withdraw from this year's Investec South African Open Championship. According to Italian media, he underwent a six-hour surgery related to spinal fractures and the implantation of a plate near his shoulder. His condition is assessed as serious but not life-threatening. According to his former college coach, Pavan is conscious, in good spirits, and 'grateful to be alive'.

Serious Accident in South Africa

Andrea Pavan, a two-time DP World Tour winner, was involved in an accident on Wednesday at his private accommodation in Stellenbosch, South Africa. According to accounts, when the elevator doors opened, the cabin was not in place, and the player fell into the empty shaft, dropping a depth equivalent to three floors.

Extensive Injuries and Surgery

The Italian golfer sustained numerous serious injuries, including spinal fractures. He underwent a six-hour surgery to reduce the spinal fractures and implant a plate near his shoulder. According to his former coach, JT Higgins, Pavan is conscious, moving his legs, and 'in good spirits', having video calls with his children.

Forced Tournament Withdrawal

The accident forced Pavan to withdraw from the prestigious Investec South African Open Championship, which began on February 26 at Stellenbosch Golf Club. His place in the field was taken by reserve player, Scotsman Richie Ramsay. Pavan, currently the 249th-ranked golfer in the world, had previously been registered to participate in the event.

Investigation and Circumstances

According to the Italian newspaper 'Il Messaggero', the accident occurred when a rushing Pavan ran into the elevator without noticing the absence of the cabin. These reports, along with information about the surgery, were made public by golf journalist Ryan French and confirmed by the portal 'The Athletic'. DP World Tour, the tour organizer, officially confirmed only the player's withdrawal from the tournament, without commenting on the details of the incident.

Italian professional golfer Andrea Pavan survived a serious accident, falling three floors down an empty elevator shaft in South Africa. The incident occurred on Wednesday, February 26, at the player's private accommodation in Stellenbosch, just before the start of the Investec South African Open Championship. According to consistent reports from Italian media and international agencies, the elevator doors opened for the player, but there was no cabin behind them. Pavan, likely rushing to the golf course, fell into the void and dropped a distance equivalent to three floors. As a result of the fall, he sustained numerous serious injuries, including spinal fractures. He was immediately transported to a hospital, where he underwent a six-hour surgery. The procedure aimed to reduce the spinal fractures and implant a plate near the shoulder. Despite the severity of the situation, the 36-year-old golfer's condition is not considered directly life-threatening. His former college coach, JT Higgins, reported to the media that Pavan is conscious, in good spirits, moving his legs, and 'is grateful to be alive'. Andrea Pavan, a player born in Rome, is a graduate of Texas A&M University in the United States. His greatest success on the main European tour, now called the DP World Tour, is winning the BMW International Open in 2019. He currently ranks 249th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). This incident is one of the most unusual accidents in the history of professional golf, a sport more associated with overuse injuries than dramatic random accidents. The accident had direct sporting consequences. Pavan, who was registered to participate in the prestigious South African Open, was forced to withdraw from the tournament. His place in the field was taken by Scotsman Richie Ramsay. The tour organizer, DP World Tour, officially confirmed the Italian's withdrawal but did not comment on the details of the incident or the player's condition. Information about the accident and surgery was initially made public by golf journalist Ryan French, who runs the Monday Q Info account on X, and later confirmed by the sports portal 'The Athletic'. The Italian newspaper 'Il Messaggero' provided additional details, suggesting the accident occurred when a rushing Pavan ran into the elevator without first checking if the cabin was at the correct level. The case has shaken the golf community, with colleagues and fans expressing their support for the player on social media. There is currently no information about the potential recovery time or when Pavan might return to professional play. „By all accounts, he's in good spirits, thankful to be alive and FaceTiming with his kids.” — JT Higgins, Pavan's former college coach

Mentioned People

  • Andrea Pavan — Italian professional golfer, two-time DP World Tour winner, victim of the accident.
  • JT Higgins — Former college coach of Andrea Pavan at Texas A&M, who provided information on the golfer's condition.
  • Ryan French — Golf journalist, running the Monday Q Info account, who first reported information about the accident.
  • Richie Ramsay — Scottish golfer who replaced Andrea Pavan in the field of the South African Open tournament.