Italian golfer Andrea Pavan has been seriously injured after falling multiple floors down an open lift shaft before this week’s South African Open.
The accident occurred on Wednesday at Pavan’s private accommodation near Stellenbosch Golf Club; the lift doors opened but there was no lift car in the shaft, causing him to tumble three stories down.
Pavan, 36, 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 since undergone major surgery.
The European Tour said Pavan had withdrawn from the tournament, which began on Thursday, through injury, but they did not provide further details because of “medical confidentiality”.