Golfer Andrea Pavan ‘thankful to be alive’ after reportedly falling down lift shaft

• Italian reportedly fell three floors in South Africa

• Golfer ‘in good spirits’ according to his former coach

Italian golfer Andrea Pavan is “thankful to be alive” after reportedly falling three floors down a lift shaft.

The 36-year-old, a two-time European Tour winner, was scheduled to be playing in this week’s South African Open Championship at Stellenbosch Golf Club but was forced to withdraw after the incident on Wednesday.