Teal MP Sophie Scamps forced to defend comments linking death of NRL player Keith Titmuss to 'lethal humidity' caused by climate change
Teal MP Dr Sophie Scamps has apologised to the family of Manly Sea Eagles player Keith Titmuss after being filmed suggesting climate change may have played a role in his death.
Titmuss died in 2020 after suffering a seizure at Manly's training ground in Narrabeen, with a coronial inquest later finding he had likely suffered a fatal heat stroke.
The Daily Telegraph published footage of Dr Scamps at a Doctors for the Environment Australia conference in February, where she mentioned his death in the context of 'lethal humidity' caused by climate change.
'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,' Dr Scamps said in the video.
The remarks angered Titmuss' family, with his mother Lafo accusing Dr Scamps of using her son's death to 'gain political points'.
Speaking to 2GB's Ben Fordham on Wednesday, Dr Scamps said she was 'deeply sorry' for the upset she caused.
'If there's any distress or upset... deeply, deeply sorry, that was never my intention at all of course," she said.
'Our community was heartbroken for their family I must say … love and best wishes and deep apologies if there was any... if she is upset. "
Mr Fordham said the death of the young footballer was a 'very delicate area' to be delving into, which prompted a further apology from Dr Scamps.
'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?' she said.
'There is a concern from doctors all around the world that … 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 about even healthy young people... our bodies are not adapted to dealing with humidity.'
When asked why she did not apologise to Titmuss' family immediately after the matter was first brought to her attention, she said she did not have their number.
'It was great to have this opportunity today to say that I am deeply sorry to the family today,' she said.
Speaking to The Australian on Tuesday, Lafo hit out at the Teal MP as she declared her son's death had nothing to do with climate change.
"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 (the Deputy State Coroner's) findings, which mention nothing about climate change,' she said.
Speaking separately to the Sydney Morning Herald, Ms Lafo said: 'The whole family are annoyed they are using Keithy's death for political gain."
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