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Italian golfer Andrea Pavan has been seriously injured after falling multiple floors down an open lift shaft before this week’s South African Open. <\/b><\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The European Tour said Pavan had withdrawn from the tournament, which began on Thursday, through injury, but they did not provide further details because of “medical confidentiality”. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n