Italian golfer Andrea Pavan speaks from hospital bed after horror lift fall
Italian golfer Andrea Pavan has broken his silence after a horror fall down an elevator shaft ruled him out of the ongoing SA Open.
Italian golfer Andrea Pavan has broken his silence after a horror fall down an elevator shaft ruled him out of the ongoing South African Open at Stellenbosch Golf Course.
Pavan, 36, was hospitalised on Wednesday after falling down an elevator shaft at the building where he was staying.
Transported to hospital
He reportedly called the elevator, and when the doors opened, the lift was not present. Unaware, he stepped forward and fell approximately three floors.
Pavan was transported to a nearby hospital with multiple injuries, including damage to his shoulder and back, and underwent extensive surgery on Wednesday night.
Pavan, who is ranked 249th in the Official World Golf Ranking, was replaced in the field by Scotland’s Richie Ramsay.
Ramsey missed the halfway cut with a score of 3-over par. The cut fell at 1-over par.
‘Thanked fans’
In a statement via the DP World Tour, Pavan thanked fans for their kind words and said the care and support he has received while in hospital “has been incredible”.
He added: “The past two days have been difficult, but I am in very good hands and to have so many players, caddies and staff visit and contact me has meant a lot to me.”
Pavan is a two-time DP World Tour winner, claiming victory at the Czech Masters in 2018 and the BMW International Open in 2019.
This season, Pavan has recorded two top-15 finishes, including a tie for ninth in Bahrain earlier this month.
GoFundMe page
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page has been created to help support Andrea Pavan and his family throughout his recovery.
One of Pavan’s college team-mates, Matt van Zandt, wrote: ‘Andrea fell three stories down an open elevator shaft in his lodging when the elevator doors opened with no car present. He was rushed to a local hospital with significant injuries to his shoulder and back, including severe shoulder damage and fractures to several vertebrae. He has already undergone at least one major surgery and will need ongoing medical care and additional procedures. Doctors expect him to remain in South Africa for many weeks before he can be safely evaluated for travel back to the US Andrea’s wife, Audra, is en route to be with him, and his sister is traveling from abroad as well. Several fellow players and friends have already visited Andrea in the hospital and say that he is in good spirits.
‘International medical care, extended hospitalization, ongoing medical procedures and care, and prolonged recovery will create unexpected and significant financial strain. This fundraiser seeks to ease that burden for Andrea, Audra and his three kids so they can focus on what matters most: healing, support, and family time. Funds will go toward medical expenses, extended stay in South Africa, transportation back home to the Dallas area, ongoing medical care and hopefully some extra to ease the uncertainty of his professional golf future.’
At the time of publishing, the GoFundMe page had raised $55 663 of its $100 000 stated goal.
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