Italian golf pro Andrea Pavan was forced to withdraw from the DP World Tour’s Investec South African Open after sustaining injuries in a freak elevator accident on Wednesday, February 25.
Pavan, 36, fell down an elevator shaft in the building where he was staying for the tournament in Cape Town, South Africa. A GoFundMe has since been organized to assist with his recovery.
His college teammate at Texas A&M University, Matt Van Zandt, set up the page and described Pavan’s injuries as “serious” in the description. (The two won a national championship together in 2009.)
“Andrea fell three stories down an open elevator shaft in his lodging when the elevator doors opened with no car present,” Van Zandt explained. “He was rushed to a local hospital with significant injuries to his shoulder and back, including severe shoulder damage and fractures to several vertebrae. He has already undergone at least one major surgery and will need ongoing medical care and additional procedures.”
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Van Zandt added in an update that Pavan will need to stay in South Africa for at least six weeks before he returns to the United States, where he now lives. His wife, Audra, and his sister are traveling to Cape Town in the meantime to be by his side as his recovery begins. They also plan for the couple’s three kids to join them.
Van Zandt said he is unsure if Pavan will ever be able to play golf again.
“International medical care, extended hospitalization, ongoing medical procedures and care, and prolonged recovery will create unexpected and significant financial strain,” Van Zandt continued in the GoFundMe description. “This fundraiser seeks to ease that burden for Andrea, Audra and his three kids so they can focus on what matters most: healing, support, and family time.”
The page continued,“Funds will go toward medical expenses, extended stay in South Africa, transportation back home to the Dallas area, ongoing medical care and hopefully some extra to ease the uncertainty of his professional golf future.”
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The GoFundMe has raised more than $44,000 as of Friday morning, February 27.
Pavan released a statement of his own on Friday, thanking fans for their well-wishes.
“I now have a lot of rehab and hard work ahead of me, but the care I have received so far from the Mediclinic hospital staff has been incredible, as has the support from the DP World Tour, the Sunshine Tour and all their staff here in Stellenbosch,” he said. “I am also very grateful for all the help [South African businessman and billionaire] Johann Rupert and his wife Gaynor have given me.”
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Pavan continued, “The last two days have been difficult, but I am in very good hands and to have so many players, caddies and staff visit and contact me has meant a lot to me. Grazie mille everyone, from me, my wife Audra, and my entire family.”
Texas A&M men’s golf coach J.T. Higgins told Golf.com that, while he hasn’t been in touch with Pavan, he has received updates on his condition.
“By all accounts, he’s in good spirits, thankful to be alive and FaceTiming with his kids,” he said.