Cape Town - South African flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis stopped breathing for a few seconds during an Aviva Premiership match at the weekend.
Catrakilis, who was making his home debut for Harlequins against Gloucester, required oxygen after taking a shoulder to the throat in the 13th minute.
Following lengthy medical treatment, the 28-year-old was taken off the field on a stretcher while receiving oxygen before being taken to hospital.
“He was struggling to breathe on the pitch, it just wasn’t clearing. It alarmed (the medics), which meant he needed to get oxygen and get to hospital and get checked out,” John Kingston, Harlequins director of rugby, told The Guardian.
“It was a shoulder to his throat and he didn’t breathe for a few seconds. But he sat up as he came off the pitch, and stood up too, but he’s got to be checked out thoroughly.”
Harlequins won the game 28-17.
Catrakilis recently joined the English club after spending two years at French club Montpellier.
He previously represented the Stormers and the Southern Kings.