Andrea Pavan, an Italian professional golfer, fell down an elevator shaft in Stellenbosch, South Africa, and had to go to the hospital. He had to pull out of the Investec South African Open just before it started.
Accident at Private Accommodation Before the Tournament
The 36-year-old Italian, Andrea Pavan, who had won the DP World Tour twice, was staying in a private accomodation near Stellenbosch before the South African Open. The accident happened on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, the day before the championship was supposed to start.
Several reports say that Pavan called for the elevator, but when the doors opened, the elevator car wasn’t there. He stepped forward and fell about three stories down the shaft.
The incident took place less than 24 hours before the first round, and emergency services took him to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Details of the injury and what the medical team responded
Reports say that Pavan hurt his shoulder and back badly, breaking vertebrae in the process. That night, doctors had to do emergency surgery to fix the damage.
Medical professionals say that even though the injuries are bad, they don’t think he is in danger of dying. It is expected that recovery will take a long time of rehabilitation.
People close to the situation say that he may need medical care for a few more weeks before he can be moved to a different facility for more treatment.
Official Update and Recovery Status
Pavan thanked everyone for their support in a statement that was shared through the DP World Tour and confirmed by people close to the golfer.
“I would like to say a big thank you for all the kind words and wishes I have received over the last 48 hours. I had surgery on my shoulder and my back on Wednesday evening and I am currently recovering in hospital.”— Andrea Pavan
During his time in the hospital, friends, fellow players, caddies, and other members of the golf community have come to see him. J.T. Higgins, Pavan’s old college coach, told reporters that the golfer is “in good spirits, thankful to be alive, and FaceTiming with his kids.”
Fans are now more at ease after the update than they were after the first reports.
Leaving the Investec South African Open
The DP World Tour said that Pavan would not be playing in the Investec South African Open because of the accident.
Richie Ramsey from Scotland took his place in the tournament.
Pavan wasn’t one of the tournament favorites, but he added depth and experience to the lineup. He had been doing well earlier in the season, so his last minute withdrawal was a big deal for the field.
Help from the community and funds
After hearing about the accident, people in the golf community quickly stepped up to help.
One of Pavan’s former college teammates started a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for his medical and rehabilitation costs. The goal of the fundraiser is $100,000, and so far it has raised more than $55,000 to support his recovery. Donations started coming in soon after the fundraiser went live.
The support shows how close professional players are to each other when things go wrong.
Career Accomplishments and Tour History
Andrea Pavan won the 2018 D+D Real Czech Masters and the 2019 BMW International Open.
He has played in big international tournaments and reached a career-high ranking in the top 250 of the Official World Golf Ranking.
Pavan played college golf at Texas A&M University before going pro. He then steadily built his professional career on the DP World Tour.
Andrea Pavan Next Steps in Getting Better
Medical teams will keep an eye on Pavan’s recovery while he stays in South Africa.
Because of the type of spinal and shoulder injuries he has, rehabilitation will be a very important step in figuring out when he might be able to compete again.
Right now, the focus is still on getting better, not on scheduling tournaments.
Last Thoughts
The event is a reminder of how quickly things can change during tournament week.
A lot of people in the golf world are still thinking about Andrea Pavan’s health and recovery, even though the South African Open is still going on.
