Pro golfer hospitalized after falling down elevator shaft in freak South Africa building accident

Professional golfer Andrea Pavan withdrew from the DP World Tour’s Investec South African Open owed to injuries helium sustained successful a freak elevator accident.

Pavan, 36, was hospitalized and "thankful to beryllium alive" aft helium fell down an elevator shaft successful the gathering helium was staying successful adjacent Cape Town, South Africa, for the tournament, according to Monday Q Info.

"By each accounts, he’s successful bully spirits, thankful to beryllium live and FaceTiming with his kids," Pavan’s erstwhile Texas A&M coach, J.T. Higgins, told the Golf Channel. Higgins hadn’t spoken to Pavan yet, but helium was updated connected his condition.

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Andrea Pavan of Italy tees disconnected connected the sixth spread during circular 1 of the Qatar Masters 2026 astatine the Doha Golf Club successful Doha, Qatar, Feb. 5, 2026. (Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto)

Golf Channel learned done sources wrong Pavan’s interior ellipse the golfer had called for an elevator wrong the gathering wherever helium was staying. However, erstwhile the doors to the elevator opened, a cab had not travel up.

Pavan didn’t recognize that arsenic helium stepped done the doors and fell 3 stories below.

Pavan sustained aggregate injuries, including to his backmost and shoulder. He underwent "extensive surgeries" Wednesday nighttime to repair the damage.

Andrea Pavan of Italy tees disconnected connected the sixth spread during circular 1 of the Qatar Masters 2026 play tourney astatine the Doha Golf Club successful Doha, Qatar, Feb. 5, 2026. (Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto)

No known betterment timeline for Pavan has been released.

The Italian golfer has 8 nonrecreational wins successful his career, including 2 connected the DP World Tour. His latest was successful 2019 erstwhile helium took location the BMW International Open.

Pavan defeated Matt Fitzpatrick, a fixture connected the PGA Tour, successful a playoff astatine the event.

Andrea Pavan of Italy tees disconnected connected the 16th spread astatine the Qatar Masters 2026 astatine Doha Golf Club Feb. 6, 2026, successful Doha, Qatar. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

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During this season, Pavan has tallied 2 apical 15 finishes, which includes a necktie for ninth astatine the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship earlier this month.

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