Teal MP Sophie Scamps apologises after being slammed for linking Keith Titmuss’ death to climate change

Dr Sophie Scamps has apologised to the family of former Manly player Keith Titmuss after she referenced his tragic death when talking about “lethal humidity” at a climate change forum.

Dr Sophie Scamps, the Sydney MP backed by Climate 200, has apologised to the family of Keith Titmuss, including his mother Lafo, after suggesting climate change may have been responsible for his death.

Speaking to 2GB’s Ben Fordham - Dr Scamps said: “Of course - if there is any distress or upset... deeply sorry if there is any upset or distress. Our community was heartbroken for their family I must say... love and best wishes and deep apologies if there was any... well sorry, she (Lafo) is upset...

Fordham interjected: “Yeah I was just going to say - you’ve said it a few times ‘if there was any upset’. Clearly she is really, really really upset.”

Dr Scamps replied: “Yeah so - deeply sorry for that upset.”

However she then went on to say: “I didn’t actually mention the young man by name nor did I say it was directly linked to climate change. The question was - what are doctors worried about with increasing temperatures.

“There is a concern from doctors all around the world... we had the hottest year on record last year... and the last ten hottest years have been in the last ten years. Whatever we have, we have a warming climate.

“It is very unfortunate that I’ve upset the family but it’s all about even healthy young people... our bodies are not adapted to dealing with humidity.”

Fordham asked Dr Scamps why she hadn’t apologised to the Titmuss family yesterday when the matter was first brought to her attention by The Daily Telegraph.

She replied: “I don’t have their number... it was great to have this opportunity today to say that I am deeply sorry to the family today.”

It comes after The Daily Telegraph revealed footage of Dr Scamps speaking at a Doctors for the Environment Australia event in February, where she warned of the rise of so-called “lethal humidity” due to climate change.

Dr Scamps was heard saying “the death of the young man, the rugby league player” in a reference to Keith Titmuss, who died in 2020 after a seizure at the club’s then training base in Narrabeen.

It led the family of Titmus to accuse the Teal MP of politicising the tragic death of a Manly Sea Eagles rugby league player by suggesting climate change was responsible for his death.

Keith Titmuss died in 2020. Picture: NRL Photos

Titmuss’s mother said her son was being used to “gain political points” by Dr Scamps.

Speaking at a Doctors for the Environment Australia event in February, Dr Scamps predicted the so-called “lethal humidity” would become widespread due to climate change.

Dr Scamps made the remarks in relation to the “the death of the young man, the rugby league player” in an apparent reference to Titmuss, who died after a seizure at the club’s then training base in Narrabeen.

Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee found that Manly’s training session in the off-season heat was “more likely than not inappropriate” and identified a number of factors that contributed to Titmuss’s heat stroke, including his high body-mass index and a lack of aerobic capacity compared to teammates.

Lee made no reference to “lethal humidity” in his findings.

Dr Scamps made the remark – an apparent reference to Titmuss – when answering a question about the link between climate change and health.

“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.

Mackellar Independent MP Sophie Scamps at the pre-polling booth at Bilarong Community Hall in North Narrabeen on Tuesday. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“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.”

However, in his coroner’s report, Lee had the maximum temperature listed at less than 25 degrees.

“The temperature (measured at Terrey Hills) was 21.3°C at 9:00am and 21.6°C at 3:00pm, with a maximum temperature of 24.9°C. The relative humidity was at 92% at 9:00am, decreasing to 74% at 3:00pm,” the coroner’s report stated.

Titmuss’s mother, Lafo, was deeply upset at Dr Scamps’ comments.

“I’m disappointed that (Dr 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,” Lafo said.

Keith Titmuss’s parents, Lafo and Paul. Picture: John Feder/The Australian

Titmuss had undertaken a two-hour training session at the Sea Eagles’ indoor gym, where he lost consciousness and was worked on by four paramedics before being taken to hospital, where he died.

A coronial inquest – which concluded in May last year – found Mr Titmuss died of “exertional heat stroke.”

“Keith’s death was a tragedy that will forever keep our thoughts focused on his family and friends – and not about politics,” Manly chief executive Tony Mestrov said on Tuesday.

“As a club, we have been made aware of political remarks, but the facts from the recent Deputy State Coroner’s report never stipulated that Keith’s death was anything to do with climate change or lethal humidity.

“To suggest otherwise is insensitive and incorrect.”

Manly players were ushered out of the club’s gymnasium by coaching staff before ambulance officers arrived.

A spokeswoman for Dr Scamps on Tuesday again referenced “lethal humidity” when questioned about her comments on Titmuss.

Dr Scamps declined to elaborate on her statement around “lethal humidity” when approached at a pre-poll election booth at North Narrabeen on Tuesday. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“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,” a 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.

“Separately, there is a rise of elite athletes around the world speaking up about the dangers that higher temperatures pose to athletes. The emergence of organisations like Sport4Climate, The Green Sports Alliance and the United Nation’s Sports for Climate Action demonstrate the seriousness of the threat.”

Dr Scamps declined to elaborate on her statement when approached at a pre-poll election booth on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, NSW Premier Chris Minns urged fellow politicians to not use tragedies to push their policies forward as the election race becomes increasingly desperate.

He expressed support for the Titmuss’ family but did not criticise Ms Scamps directly.

“I take (the family’s concerns) at face value. I think they’ve made it very clear that they don’t want the terrible, tragic death of their son to be politicised in an election campaign,” Mr Minns said.

“That’s message for all politicians, me included.

“Obviously you want to pursue your policies and it’s in a competitive political environment, but we have to be very careful about not politicising tragedies.”