Italian golfer Andrea Pavan is reportedly "thankful to be alive" after suffering a three-storey fall down a lift shaft, an incident that has left him seriously injured. The 36-year-old, a two-time DP World Tour winner, was forced to withdraw from this week’s Investec South African Open Championship following the accident.
The incident occurred on Wednesday at his private accommodation. Reports suggest the lift doors opened to an empty shaft, leading to Pavan's fall and multiple injuries.
Italian media claim he underwent a six-hour operation to reduce several vertebral fractures and implant a plate in his shoulder. While his condition is serious, it is not considered life-threatening. His former college coach, JT Higgins, told Golf Channel: "By all accounts, he’s in good spirits, thankful to be alive and FaceTiming with his kids."
