You need to read more than just the headline. Will leave it to more capable minds than mine but it is not as clear as the headline indicates
Former Manly player Keith Titmuss died after a training session which was “more likely than not inappropriate”, a coroner has found.
Deputy state coroner Derek Lee presented his findings on Friday at the NSW Coroners Court into the death of the rising rugby league star after almost two weeks of evidence from Manly officials, former teammates and expert witnesses.
Lee told the court Titmuss was “most likely suffering involuntary dehydration” when he entered a dojo, or wrestling gym, for a short and intense cardio session at the end of Manly’s first field session of pre-season training in November 2020.
Lee said a number of factors caused Titmuss to suffer from exertional heatstroke – in which a paramedic described his body temperature of 41.9 degrees as the “hottest they’d ever seen” – including his high body mass index and lack of aerobic capacity compared to teammates.
His recommendations included the NRL consider a graduated 14-day return to training program for players after extended breaks such as the off-season, individual programs for players given their characteristics and medical personnel on standby for sessions in which heat illness is a greater risk.
Lee denied a 70-per-cent narrowing of one of Titmuss’ arteries was a factor in his death, and described Manly’s legal team raising the issue, while highlighting the caring nature of the club at length during the inquest, as “incongruous with the themes described”.
“Agitation of this issue was a source of distress to Keith’s family,” Lee said. “The degree to which this issue was raised by Manly was surprising and rarely seen.”
The court heard Manly’s immediate response to Titmuss’ medical episode and the treatment by paramedics was appropriate.
The Sea Eagles honoured Titmuss by posthumously naming him their 623rd first grade player despite being yet to make his NRL debut when he died.
He collapsed inside the club’s Narrabeen gym and suffered a seizure, and evidence given to the court described his involuntary howls as he moved around the dojo. He was taken to hospital where he later suffered a cardiac arrest.
“It’s been an incredibly distressing time for all of us, but particularly the family,” Manly chief executive Tony Mestrov said.
“We want to make sure we’re thinking of them today and how tough that was. Obviously, we’ve willingly participated in this inquiry and inquest. His Honour has handed down the findings today and we intend to take the recommendations up.
“This can’t happen again in the game. We all understand that. We don’t want it to happen under Manly’s watch ever again.”
Former Manly coach Des Hasler, who was employed at the club at the time of Titmuss’ death but has since left the Sea Eagles, provided evidence at the inquiry alongside a number of Sea Eagles officials as well as Titmuss’ former teammates including Josh Schuster, Moses Suli and Ben Trbojevic.
A paramedic reported Titmuss’ temperature was one they’d never seen before despite the maximum temperature at nearby Terrey Hills not reaching 25 degrees on the day.
Counsel assisting the coroner, Adam Casselden, SC, told the inquest in March the training session was “unnecessarily and inappropriately tough” for a player of Titmuss’ aerobic capacity, who was found to record the lowest score of Manly’s players during a yo-yo screening test days earlier.
Hasler previously told the court he rated the training session a “six or seven out of 10” as GPS data found Titmuss only covered an average of 47 metres per minute over the course of the session.
Lee described Titmuss’ death as a “tragic and devastating loss”.
“Keith was doing what he loved and sharing the love with his close friends,” Lee said.