Golfer who plunged down elevator shaft gives encouraging update

One week after he was involved in a terrible elevator accident in South Africa, Italian pro golfer Andrea Pavan was released from a hospital on Wednesday.

In an Instagram post that included a picture of Pavan in a wheelchair, with his wife Audra at his side, the DP World Tour player wrote, “Today was a big day. … It truly feels like a miracle to be able to walk and start to do some basic activities, although at a very slow and careful pace.”

Last Wednesday, on the eve of the South African Open near Capetown, Pavan pushed the button for an elevator at his rental lodging, and when the doors opened and Pavan stepped forward, the elevator car had not arrived and he plunged three stories. Among Pavan’s injuries were fractures to several vertebrae and severe shoulder damage. He was rushed to the hospital and underwent surgery that night.

In his post, Pavan thanked the medical staff at Mediclinic, as well as those at the DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour, and the players and caddies who visited him in the ICU during the tournament.

“Thank you to all the friends, family, sponsors and people who reached out with messages and prayers and stepped in to help in all kinds of different ways,” Pavan wrote. “I am sorry I could not get back to all of you yet, but my heart is overwhelmed with love and joy.

“God has answered many prayers, it truly feels like His hand is on my recovery. The road is very long but this small step feels very good! I will need to stay in South Africa another 5 weeks and rehab both shoulder and back, and heal other bruises and secondary injuries and once back home continue the rehab journey.”

Pavan said he would remain in South Africa for the next five weeks and will stay in accommodations provided by South African billionaire businessman Johann Rupert and his wife, Gaynor.

Pavan, 36, is a two-time winner on the European tour and currently lives outside of Dallas with Audra and their three children. He played in college at Texas A&M.