\u201cI had opened the door of the apartment and the lift wasn\u2019t there and I just fell,\u201d Pavan tells The Athletic via a video call from South Africa, where he has spent the past month recovering.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was obviously happy not to lose consciousness and managed to call for help. And the response came in a very decent amount of time but it was difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pavan does not remember the fall itself, something a psychologist he has been working with says is normal for anyone who has experienced such a traumatic event. What he can recall is the excruciating pain he felt after his body crashed to the bottom of the lift shaft. He screamed not only in agonising pain but for help.<\/p>\n
The 36-year-old father of three could see the elevator above him, which set off an instant dread that it could start moving down and crush him. It felt like a race against time for the two-time DP World Tour winner, who says his survival instincts kicked in.<\/p>\n
His right shoulder was so badly injured he could not move his arm at all. He reached over into his pocket with his left hand and grabbed his phone to shakily call Mateo, who answered and rushed to the scene.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was shouting and to be honest, I\u2019m not too sure how long it took (to be rescued). I remember being in excruciating pain and just trying to stay there and hold onto it,\u201d Pavan says.<\/p>\n
After the fire and ambulance service pulled him out, Pavan was rushed to Mediclinic Stellenbosch, where he remained for one week before being discharged.<\/p>\n
His injuries included severe shoulder damage and fractures to several vertebrae in his spine, both of which required surgery. There was extensive bruising to his lower back, thighs and his right knee was damaged. Remarkably, Pavan did not suffer any trauma to his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had wounds, like abrasions on my hands,\u201d he explains. \u201cIt\u2019s just a guess \u2026 I probably tried to hold onto something to try to slow down. But I landed probably in a way that means I\u2019m still here, so I\u2019m thankful. Miraculously, I was very hurt but I\u2019m alive.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know how many accidents like this happen in general, but I feel extremely lucky just to be able to walk and to not have hit my head or lost consciousness and to be able to call for help. I\u2019m just thankful to hug my friends, hug my wife, hug my kids. I guess life can change in a split second.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was Pavan who broke the news to his wife, Audra. Pavan was eight hours ahead in time difference to Audra, at home with the children in Texas \u2014 when the accident happened it was around 9am in South Africa. By the time he was able to call Audra it was around 4am her time.<\/p>\n
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\n Pavan has played in three majors. He missed the cut at the US Open at Oakmont last year (Warren Little\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
By Saturday afternoon, Audra had made the 27-hour trip from the family home in Dallas to be by his bedside.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was not easy but luckily by then I knew that I didn\u2019t have any head (injuries) or concussion,\u201d he says. \u201cSo there was some positive things to say. It was difficult. I tried to tell her that I was gonna be OK, that I\u2019m gonna survive.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, that I survived but again I needed to go through surgery. There were a lot of uncertainties, it was so unexpected and she was so far away. It was a massive shock for everybody but luckily she had a friend come over immediately. She had friends and her parents were right there to truly help during that day of figuring out eventually how she could come here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pavan is still wearing a sling on his right side and has just started to dress himself again. He has to wait six weeks post-op before he can make the transatlantic trip home.<\/p>\n
Their three children \u2014 Luca, 9, Sofia, 7, and Julia, 4 \u2014 are eagerly awaiting their parents\u2019 return on April 9.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have to be careful because they usually run at me and jump on me,\u201d he smiles, knowing those special moments he almost lost are inching closer.<\/p>\n
The Texas A&M alumnus is looking forward to returning to parenthood. As to whether he will return to golf, Pavan, who turned professional 16 years ago, is unclear on his future.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe care I\u2019ve received has been fantastic,\u201d he adds. \u201cThe recovery is going to be very long and with a lot of uncertainties ahead, but I can walk and I can live a normal life. I\u2019m doing OK, but there\u2019s a lot uncertainties on the other side, but I\u2019ll give it my best. And just like always (I will) try hard to come back but we just don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
The golf community has rallied around Pavan and his family. There were so many golfers and caddies wanting to visit Pavan, a shuttle bus was put on between the course and the hospital, a 10-minute ride away.<\/p>\n
Sebastian Garcia, a Spanish golfer on the European Tour, was a reserve that week and not playing at the tournament. When Pavan was in the intensive care unit with only two visitors allowed in at a time, it was Garcia who took on the role of visitation manager. \u201cHe was there the whole time,\u201d Pavan says.<\/p>\n
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