- Budding NRL star Keith Titmuss died in 2020
- Inquest revealed death was by exertional heat stroke
- Teal MP linked death to ‘lethal humidity’ from climate change
- Sophie Scamps is a doctor, also Member for Mackellar in Sydney
The family of Manly NRL player Keith Titmuss have condemned Sophie Scamps after the Teal MP linked climate change to his death in 2020.
Dr Scamps, the independent member for Mackellar on Sydney’s northern beaches, suggested ‘lethal humidity’ could have been why the 20-year-old died following a gruelling Sea Eagles’ training session at their Narrabeen base.
A coronial inquest last year found Titmuss died of exertional heatstroke after an ‘inappropriately difficult’ session.
Medical experts told the inquest Titmuss’s higher body mass and lower aerobic fitness levels compared to his teammates were risk factors that contributed to him overheating from exertion on the ‘mild’ 24C day that November.
One of the paramedics who treated the rising star while he was having a seizure measured his temperature at nearly 42C, which was the highest they had ever seen.
Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee found Manly’s training session was ‘more likely than not inappropriate’.
The family of Manly Sea Eagles player Keith Titmuss (pictured) have slammed Sophie Scamps after the Teal MP linked climate change to his death in 2020
Dr Sophie Scamps, the independent member for Mackellar on Sydney’s northern beaches, suggested ‘lethal humidity’ could have been why the 20-year-old died following a Manly training session at their Narrabeen base
Titmuss’ mother Lafo (pictured right) was upset after being informed of Dr Scamps’ comments
The Sea Eagles forward was just 20 years old when he died after what a corner has branded an ‘inappropriate’ level of exercise during a training session
Lee did not reference ‘lethal humidity’ in his findings.
Dr Scamps has come under fire after speaking at a Doctors for the Environment Australia event in February where she predicted ‘lethal humidity’ would become widespread due to climate change.
She referenced Titmuss’s death without naming him.
Dr Scamps made the remarks in relation to the ‘the death of the young man, the rugby league player’.
‘One of the things that really struck me – we’ve got this thing called lethal humidity now,’ she said.
‘With every rise of one degree in temperature you have seven degrees increased per cent in humidity, so the death of that young man – and I’m not saying – the death of the young man the rugby league player when it was 33 degrees a very humid day, died from heat stress – you know, after a training session.
‘That type of lethal humidity is something that the medical fraternity is getting more and more concerned about.
‘Apparently, the human body can survive up to 54 degrees Celsius – it’s pretty hot.
‘But, with high-level humidity, that level comes down to kind of 33, even 31 degrees, so it’s something to consider.’
Titmuss’s mother Lafo was shattered after being informed of Dr Scamps’ comments.
‘I’m disappointed that [Scamps] is using my son’s name to try and gain political points when all she needed to do was read Derek Lee’s findings, which mention nothing about climate change,’ she told News Corp.
A spokeswoman for Dr Scamps again referenced ‘lethal humidity’ when queried about her controversial comments about the budding rugby league star.
‘Sophie and the entire Northern Beaches community are desperately sad for the Titmuss family after the terrible tragedy of Keith’s death, which the Coroner’s Court found was caused by exertional heat stroke,’ the spokeswoman said.
‘As a doctor and former elite athlete, Sophie takes the threat of lethal humidity extremely seriously. As parents, we do not want our kids to have to train and compete in conditions that put their health at risk. Sophie will continue to push for action to ensure a safe working environment for all athletes, young and old.’
