News that brightens the day: Andrea Pavan is already out of the hospital. A week after the chilling accident the Italian suffered before the South African Open, he has been discharged and will continue his rehabilitation in nearby accommodation, which, as he explains, has been arranged by the Rupert family.
The Italian describes the magnitude of the accident bluntly: “it seems like a miracle to be able to walk.” Pavan acknowledges that he still does it “very slowly” and with extreme caution, but the simple fact of standing up and starting with basic tasks is already a small triumph after an incident that could have ended much worse.
The context, as harsh as it may be, helps to understand the extent of what he recounts. Pavan suffered a fall of several metres down an elevator shaft in the building where he was staying in South Africa, a strange and very serious accident that caused injuries to his back and shoulder and led him to undergo surgery.
Now, with the discharge in hand, the less visible and longer part begins: five more weeks in South Africa to rehabilitate shoulder and back, heal bruises and secondary injuries, and then continue the process at home. He does not talk about timelines to return to competition. He speaks, above all, of gratitude: to the staff at Mediclinic, to surgeons and nurses, to the DP World Tour and the Sunshine Tour, and also to the players and caddies who visited him in the ICU during the tournament week, “like a big family.”
The last sentence sums up the exact point he is at: there is a long way to go, but this first step “feels very good.”
Full message published on Instagram and translated into Spanish:
“Today has been a great day. I was discharged from the hospital to continue my rehabilitation in nearby accommodation, kindly arranged by the Rupert family.
It truly feels like a miracle to be able to walk and start doing some basic activities, albeit at a very slow pace and with great care.
I would like to thank all the staff at Mediclinic, all the surgeons, nurses, and everyone who made this incredible recovery possible.
Thanks to the DP World Tour and the Sunshine Tour, particularly to Mateo, Ben, Joel and everyone who helped me during this past week. To the players and caddies of the DP World Tour who came to visit me in the ICU while the SA Open was being played: it truly felt like a big family!
Thanks to all the friends, family, sponsors, and people who got in touch with messages and prayers and who stepped in to help in so many different ways. I am sorry I haven’t been able to respond to everyone yet, but my heart is overflowing with love and joy. God has answered many prayers; I truly feel 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 for another 5 weeks and rehabilitate both the shoulder and the back, as well as heal other bruises and secondary injuries, and once at home continue the rehabilitation journey.”
