Andrea Pavan hospitalized after falling down elevator shaft in wild accident

Professional golfer Andrea Pavan has withdrawn from the DP World Tour’s Investec South African Open due to injuries he suffered in a freak elevator accident.

Pavan, 36, was hospitalized and “grateful to be alive” after falling down an elevator shaft in the building where he was staying near Cape Town, South Africa, for the tournament, according to Monday Q Info.

“Obviously he’s in good spirits, grateful to be alive and FaceTiming with his kids,” Pavan’s former coach at Texas A&M, JT Higgins, told Golf Channel. Higgins had not yet spoken to Pavan, but he was aware of his condition.

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Golf Channel learned from sources close to Pavan that the golfer called for an elevator in the building where he was staying. However, when the elevator doors opened, no taxi had arrived.

Pavan didn’t realize it as he walked through the doors and fell three floors below.

Pavan suffered multiple injuries, including to his back and shoulder. He underwent “extensive surgeries” Wednesday evening to repair the damage.

Italian Andrea Pavan plays on the sixth hole during the first round of the Qatar Masters 2026 golf tournament at Doha Golf Club in Doha, Qatar, February 5, 2026. (Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto)

No known recovery timetable for Pavan has been released.

The Italian golfer has eight professional victories in his career, including two on the DP World Tour. His last was in 2019 when he won the BMW International Open.

Pavan beat PGA Tour staple Matt Fitzpatrick in a playoff at the event.

Italian Andrea Pavan tees off on the 16th hole of the Qatar Masters 2026 at Doha Golf Club on February 6, 2026, in Doha, Qatar. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

During this season, Pavan has recorded two top-15 finishes, including a tie for ninth at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship earlier this month.

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