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Epoch Times
06-05-2025
- Climate
- Epoch Times
Teal MP Apologises After Linking Climate Change to NRL Player's Death
Teal MP Sophie Scamps has been forced to apologise after being accused of linking the death of National Rugby League (NRL) player Keith Titmuss to climate change. Scamps represents Mackellar on Sydney's northern beaches, and will be defending a 3.3 percent margin at the federal election on May 3. In an interview, Scamps apologised for her comments after she copped criticism for implying a link between climate change and Titmuss's death. 'If there's any distress or upset, that was never my intention at all,' when asked what she would say to the family on 2GB. 'Our community was heartbroken for their family, and [my] deep apologies if she is upset.' The controversy stems from remarks made by Scamps at a Doctors for the Environment Australia event, where she suggested that 'lethal humidity' may have been a contributing factor in the death of the rugby player. Related Stories 4/29/2025 4/23/2025 Titmuss died following a training session on a humid day when temperatures reached 33°C. 'The Rugby league player died from heat stress after a training session,' Scamps said at the event. 'That sort of lethal humidity is something that the medical fraternity is getting more and more concerned about.' 'Lethal humidity' refers to conditions when heat and humidity make it too hard for the human body to cool itself via sweating. It has been What Was the Cause of Death? The coronial inquest determined that the death of Keith Titmuss, a Manly Sea Eagles Player, was caused by heat stroke, exacerbated by factors such as body mass and the intensity of training, not by climate change. 'Lethal humidity' was not listed as a contributing factor. Deputy State Coroner Magistrate Derek Lee's report Scamps Defends Her Comments In the interview, Scamps defended her remarks, explaining that she had not mentioned Titmuss by name and that her comments were about broader concerns over rising temperatures and humidity. She noted that medical professionals are increasingly worried about the increase in both heat and humidity. 'There is a concern from doctors all over the world that not only have we had the hottest year on record last year, the second hottest year the year before, and the last 10 hottest years have been in the last 10 years. So we have a warming climate,' she said. Election: Scamps Faces Challenge The teal MP won the seat of Mackellar from Liberal Jason Falinski in the 2022 federal election with the backing of She is now facing a challenge from Liberal candidate James Brown at the federal election. Brown, a former Australian army officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, recently launched his campaign with the support of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and former Prime Minister John Howard. Brown has also held senior positions in various organisations, including Chief Executive Officer of the Space Industry Association of Australia and Chairman of Invictus Australia. 'James Brown chose to serve Australia, spending over a decade in the Army with deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Solomon Islands. As president of the RSL in NSW, he led the campaign for a Royal Commission into Veteran and Defence Suicide,' Dutton 'Now, James is ready to represent Mackellar. As a father and first-time homeowner, he understands the pressures families face — especially with rising costs.' If elected, Brown is promising to spend $250 million to upgrade Mona Vale Road, $1 million for an upgrade to Avalon Beach, and $4.5 million to renovate Newport Surf Lifesaving Club.
7NEWS
30-04-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
Teal MP Sophie Scamps blasted over linking NRL player Keith Titmuss' death to climate change
Teal MP Sophie Scamps has responded to backlash over linking the death of NRL player Keith Titmuss to climate change. Manly Sea Eagles player Titmuss, 20, suffered a seizure at an indoor workout session at the club's base on Sydney's Northern Beaches on November 23, 2020. Titmuss was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney but died five hours later from cardiac arrest. An inquest examining the death found the budding NRL player most likely suffered exertion heat stroke, although an autopsy was inconclusive. At the Doctors for the Environment conference earlier this year, Scamps — an emergency doctor and GP who won the Sydney Northern Beaches seat of Mackellar at the last federal election — linked Titmuss' death to 'lethal humidity'. 'One of the things that really struck me, we've got this thing called lethal humidity now,' she said in a video posted to her YouTube account. '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 33C, 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, if it's dry heat, up to 54C — that's pretty hot. But with high humidity that level comes down to kind of 33C, even 31C. So, it's something to consider.' Titmuss' mother accused the MP of trying to use her son's death to score political points. 'I'm disappointed that (Scamps) is using my son's name to try to gain political points when all she needed to do was read (Coroner) Derek Lee's findings, which mention nothing about climate change,' Lafo Titmuss told The Australian. 'The whole family are annoyed they are using Keithy's death for political gain,' she later told the Sydney Morning Herald. Apology now issued Scamps told 2GB Sydney listeners on Wednesday morning she never intended to hurt the Titmuss family. 'Of course, if there's any distress or upset (I'm) deeply, deeply sorry,' she said. 'Our community was heartbroken for their family.' She said her 'love and best wishes' and 'deep apologies' were with the family. Host Ben Fordham asked why she decided to comment on the case of a patient she had never treated. Scamps said she avoided naming Titmuss and was simply responding to a question. 'It was a Doctors for the Environment event and I could say that I didn't actually mention the young man by name, nor did I ever say that it was directly linked to climate change,' Scamps said. 'The question was 'what are doctors worried about with, you know, increasing temperatures' and there is a concern from doctors all around the world that not only have we had — we'll just go back a little bit, we had the hottest year on record last year, the second-hottest year the year before, and the last 10 hottest years have been in the last 10 years. 'Whatever we have, we have a warming climate. One of the concerns that doctors do have is not only the increasing heat but increasing humidity — and our bodies are unfortunately poorly adapted to dealing with increased humidity.' This is impacting athletes worldwide, Scamps — herself a former runner who represented Australia in sprints and middle-distance events — said. University of Sydney Heat and Health Research Centre began conducting a world-first study into predicting lethal humidity and associated excess mortality late last year. Scamps' electorate of Mackellar — covering Northern Beaches suburbs from Dee Why to Palm Beach, including Narrabeen, Mona Vale, Avalon and Newport — is anticipated to be a key seat this federal election. She won the seat at the last election, breaking a long history of Liberal Party representation.
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Teal MP Sophie Scamps is blasted in live radio train wreck as she makes grovelling apology to family of footy star Keith Titmuss who died aged just 20
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'. 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 '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'. 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.'
News.com.au
29-04-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Independent MP slammed for linking NRL player Keith Titmuss' death to climate change
A Sydney Independent MP has been criticised for linking an NRL player's death to climate change. Dr Sophie Scamps, the member for Mackellar on Sydney's northern beaches, has suggested 'lethal humidity' could have been a factor in the death of Keith Titmuss after a Manly Sea Eagles pre-season training session in November 2020. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE in 4K with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Code Sports reports Dr Scamps floated the theory that 'lethal humidity' would become more prominent when speaking at a Doctors for the Environment Australia event in February. She made the comments referencing 'the death of the young man, the rugby league player', Titmuss, who died following a seizure at Manly's training base in Narrabeen. Dr Scamps' remarks were prompted by 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,' said Dr Scamps, who is a GP. '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.' Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee found that Manly's training session in the off-season heat was 'more likely than not inappropriate' and pointed to several factors that contributed to Titmuss's heat stroke, including his high body-mass index and a lack of aerobic capacity in comparison to teammates. Lee did not reference 'lethal humidity' in his findings. In his coroner's report, Lee noted the maximum temperature on the day of Titmuss' death as 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' mother Lafo has been left upset by 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, per Code Sports. A coronial inquest, which wrapped up in May last year, found 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.' Titmuss collapsed during a training session at an indoor gym. He was rushed to hospital, where he suffered a fatal cardiac arrest. A spokesperson for Dr Scamps again referenced 'lethal humidity' when asked about the MP's comments about Titmuss. '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 told Code Sports. '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 was one of six 'teal' Independents who defeated Liberal MPs at the 2022 federal election.
Sky News AU
29-04-2025
- Health
- Sky News AU
Teal MP Sophie Scamps scolded for suggesting rugby league player Keith Titmuss's death caused by climate change related factors
Teal MP Sophie Scamps has been accused of politicising the death of Manly Sea Eagles rugby league player Keith Titmuss, after she baselessly linked his death to climate change induced causes. Dr Sophie Scamps, the independent member for the seat of Mackellar on Sydney's northern beaches has claimed that 'lethal humidity' could have been a contributing factor to the sudden passing of the rugby league prodigy. Titmuss, aged 20, tragically died in November 2020 due to experiencing a severe seizure after a Manly Sea Eagles exercise session at the club's then training facility in Narrabeen. He was rushed to hospital, where he suffered a cardiac arrest. Titmuss was set to make his NRL debut in 2021. In vision obtained by The Australian, Mr Scamps stated at a Doctors for the Environment Australia conference in February that 'lethal humidity', a so-called climate change related phenomenon would become an increasingly prevalent issue. Dr Scamps made the claim whilst discussing 'the death of the young man, the rugby league player" in an apparent reference to Titmuss. The Teal MP's bizarre comments prompted a furious response from the players family, with Titmuss's mother Lafo accusing Dr Scamps of using her son's death to 'gain political points'. "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,' Ms Lafo toldThe Australian. Speaking separately to the Sydney Morning Herald, Ms Lafo reiterated 'The whole family are annoyed they are using Keithy's death for political gain". Ms Lafo emphasised the family was outraged that Dr Scamps 'didn't look into the cause of Keithy's death', stating it had 'nothing to do with climate change'. 'If you're going to use someone's tragedy, they should take five minutes to review the findings and do some background research,' she said. The findings of a coronial inquest into Titmuss's death in early 2024 revealed that the Sea Eagles player was suffering from 'exertional heat stroke' when he collapsed at training and later died. Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee deduced that Manly's training session in the off-season heat was 'more likely than not inappropriate' and listed a number of contributing factors for Titmuss's heat stroke including a high body-mass index and lower aerobic abilities in comparison to his teammates. Lee made no reference to 'lethal humidity' in his report. Dr Scamps made the comments - in an apparent reference to Titmuss when pressed about the connection 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'. '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' Ms Scamps outlined. However, in his report, Mr Lee listed the maximum temperature far lower than that proposed by Dr Scamps, 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 concluded. A spokeswoman for Dr Scamps on Tuesday again touted 'lethal humidity' when asked about her comments regarding Titmuss's death. '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'.
