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Italian Andrea Pavan says he is “optimistic” about his return to action after falling down an open elevator shaft in February.
of An event has occurred Before the South African Open, the elevator doors at Pavan’s private residence near Stellenbosch Golf Club opened but there was no elevator car in the shaft, sending him down three floors.
The 36-year-old man suffered major injuries to his shoulder and several broken vertebrae in his back and was taken to a local hospital where he underwent major surgery.
“It’s hard to say the exact goal, there are just as many steps,” Pavan said.
“At about three months we’ll see how much the bone has healed, at about six months we’ll see where full bone healing is and how the joint moves until then.
“If I need a second operation, it depends on whether there are other damaged tissues. And if the blood flow is not enough to the bone, there is a chance of necrosis. There is a risk, but so far things are positive enough.
“The shoulder is a very demanding joint. Hopefully it will be a little less than a year before I can play fully swing but it’s so new and such a big injury there are so many unknowns. But I’m hopeful and the only thing I can do is try and improve and take it day by day.”
On the day of the incident, Pavan was preparing to travel to the Stellenbosch course for breakfast and the afternoon pro-am tee, when he returned to his apartment to retrieve the lock key that had been left there.
He told the Naga Munchetti program on BBC Radio 5 Live: “I walked back towards the lift, opened the door – one of the doors leading straight into the flat – and took a step when I realized the lift wasn’t there.
“The next thing I know I’m under the elevator, fortunately not unconscious, but in a lot of pain and screaming for help.
“I heard someone and somehow I got out my phone and called my caddy who was in the car. He’s been trying to survive the pain ever since and they’re waiting for the ambulance and all the firefighters to get me out.”
The two-time DP World Tour winner spent seven days in hospital in South Africa after suffering a completely broken shoulder and underwent surgery and is now back home in Texas.
Pavan thanked the golf world for the “wonderful” support he received during his hospital stay.
“The number of people who came to visit me at the hospital when the race was on was overwhelming,” he said.
“There were many players – my friends – who actually stayed up until 2am and waited for me to come out of surgery and the next day they were playing in the tournament, Matteo Manassero, Manuel Oliveira and others.
“I was shocked and it was both comforting and terrifying to hear that you are not alone in this.”
