Andrea Pavan: Italian golfer falls down lift shaft in freak accident as fellow pros donate towards his recovery
Andrea Pavan was injured in a freak accident that saw him fall three floors down a lift shaft, leaving him with multiple injuries, including a fractured vertebrae; the accident took place in Stellenbosch, where he was due to be competing in the South African Open
Friday 27 February 2026 11:40, UK
Italian golfer Andrea Pavan has sustained multiple injuries after falling three floors down a lift shaft in South Africa.
The accident took place at Pavan's lodging in Stellenbosch ahead of the South African Open, with Pavan falling when the lift doors opened but there was no lift car in the shaft, according to a GoFundMe page set up by former team-mate Matt van Zandt.
Pavan - a two-time DP World Tour winner - was rushed to the local hospital, where he was confirmed to have significant injuries to his shoulder and back, including severe shoulder damage and fractures to several vertebrae.
Pavan has already undergone at least one major surgery and is expected to remain in hospital in South Africa, where he will receive continued medical care before being evaluated for travel back to the United States.
The fundraiser, set up to support his wife Audra and their three children with medical bills, has seen professional golfers donating, including Richard Mansell, Nacho Elvira and Jhonattan Vegas.
Pavan's 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."
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