Teal MP Sophie Scamps has made a grovelling apology to the family of Manly NRL player Keith Titmuss after she linked his tragic death to climate change.
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.
Titmuss’s family blasted Scamps’ remarks on Tuesday, and she made the apology during an intense interview with 2GB radio star Ben Fordham on Wednesday morning.
‘Of course, if there’s any distress or upset, deeply, deeply sorry. That was never my intention at all,’ Scamps said.
Fordham then chastised Scamps for saying ‘if there’s any distress or upset’, pointing out the fact that the statement from Titmuss’s mother proved ‘clearly she is really, really upset’.
The announcer followed that by criticising Scamps – who is a medical doctor with experience working in a hospital emergency department and as a GP – for ‘delving into the specific case of a deceased patient you’ve never treated’.
Dr Sophie Scamps has apologised for controversial comments linking a footy star’s death to climate change in a train-wreck radio interview
Sea Eagles forward Keith Titmuss (pictured) was just 20 years old when he died after what a corner branded an ‘inappropriate’ level of exercise during a training session
2GB star Ben Fordham (pictured) blasted Scamps – who is a former GP – for ‘delving into the specific case of a deceased patient you’ve never treated’
‘I didn’t actually mention the young man by name, nor did I ever say that it [his death] was directly linked to climate change,’ Scamps replied.
‘It’s very unfortunate that I’ve upset the family but it’s all about healthy, young people – our bodies are not adapted to dealing with humidity.’
‘I’m already getting messages from people saying, why didn’t Sophie Scamps apologise yesterday when it was brought to her attention?’ Fordham asked.
‘I don’t have their [the family’s] number, unfortunately,’ Scamps said.
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 inquest into the death of Titmuss (pictured) heard from a paramedic who said the NRL star had the highest temperature he’d ever recorded as he tried to save his life
Titmuss’ mother Lafo (pictured right) released a statement on Tuesday outlining the family’s distress over Scamps’ remarks
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.’
