Italian golfer Andrea Pavan said it felt “like a miracle” to be walking again after leaving hospital just a week after plunging down an empty lift shaft.
The 36-year-old Pavan fractured several vertebrae after tumbling down multiple floors inside an empty lift shaft at his accommodation where he was preparing for the South African Open in Stellenbosch last week.
On Wednesday, he posted photos of himself smiling with his wife – one with Pavan in a wheelchair and another showing him standing with the help of crutches, after requiring major surgery for his injuries.
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“It truly feels like a miracle to be able to walk,” Pavan said in an Instagram post.
He thanked medical staff, his fellow golfers, the event organisers and all the people who reached out to show their support.
“God has answered many prayers,” he said.
“The road is very long but this small step feels very good.
“I will need to stay in South Africa another five weeks and rehab both shoulder and back, and heal other bruises and secondary injuries and once home continue the rehab journey.”
Pavan, who lives in the United States, is a two-time winner on the European Tour. He won the Czech Masters in 2018 and the BMW International Open the following year.
Pavan’s full statement
Today was a big day. I got discharged from the hospital to continue my rehab at an accommodation nearby kindly set up by the Rupert family.
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.
I would like to thank all the Mediclinic staff, all the surgeons, nurses and everyone who has made this incredible recovery a possibility.
Thank you to DP World Tour & Sunshine Tour in particular Mateo, Ben, Joel and all the people who helped me along this last week. The DP World Tour players and caddies who came to visit me in ICU while playing the SA Open – it truly felt like a big family!
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. 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.
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