Cape Town – South African flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis will be sidelined until at least Christmas after undergoing throat surgery.

READ: Catrakilis ‘stopped breathing’ after shoulder to throat

Catrakilis suffered the injury while playing for his English club Harlequins in September.

It was reported at the time that Catrakilis had stopped breathing for a few seconds during an Aviva Premiership against Gloucester.

Catrakilis required oxygen after taking a shoulder to the throat in the 13th minute of the game.

However, according to the KweseESPN website, his breathing was also affected by a piece of skin that was impeding his windpipe which required surgery.

The 28-year-old, who recently joined Harlequins to replace the now retired Nick Evans, is expected to return to South Africa to recover from the surgery.

Catrakilis joined the English club after spending two years at French club Montpellier.

He previously represented the Stormers and the Southern Kings in South Africa.