Andrea Pavan Withdraws from South Africa Open After Elevator Accident

Professional golfer Andrea Pavan has had to pull out of the DP World Tour’s Investec South Africa Open. This decision comes after he suffered injuries from an unexpected elevator accident.

As reported by Q Info, Pavan, 36, was hospitalized after he fell down an elevator shaft in the building where he was staying while preparing for the tournament in Cape Town, South Africa. He expressed gratitude simply for being alive after the incident.

In a conversation with the Golf Channel, Pavan’s former coach at Texas A&M, JT Higgins, remarked, “From all appearances, he’s fine. I’m grateful he’s alive and able to FaceTime with the kids.” Higgins mentioned he hadn’t spoken to Pavan directly but received updates regarding his condition.

Pavan reportedly called for an elevator in his building, but upon the doors opening, the elevator was not there. Unaware of this, he had a serious fall, plunging three floors down.

He suffered multiple injuries to his back and shoulder, and it was necessary for him to undergo extensive surgery to address the damage.

Details about Pavan’s recovery timeline remain unclear. The Italian golfer boasts eight professional wins, with a couple on the DP World Tour. His last notable victory was back in 2019 at the BMW International Open, where he triumphed over PGA Tour competitor Matt Fitzpatrick in a playoff.

Pavan has shown promise this season, achieving two top-15 finishes, including a tie for ninth place at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship recently.