Teal MP Sophie Scamps today apologised for linking climate change with the tragic death of a young rugby league player.

Remarks by the politician and doctor caused an outcry from the family of Keith Titmuss who died in 2020 following a Manly Sea Eagles training session.

Scamps told Ben Fordham on 2GB she was “deeply sorry” for linking his death with climate change when she spoke at an environmental event earlier this year.

”Lethal humidity is something that the medical fraternity is getting more and more concerned about,” the MP for Mackellar, on Sydney’s northern beaches, told a Doctors For the Environment Australia meeting.

But the mother of Keith Titmuss, Lafo, this week slammed the MP’s remarks, telling News Corp the coroner’s report mentioned nothing about climate change.

Last year’s coronial inquest found her son died of “exertional heat stroke”. 

The coroner said the maximum temperature on the day of Titmuss’ death was 25 degrees.

Scamps said today she never mentioned Keith Titmuss by name and did not directly link his death with climate change.

But she insisted doctors and sporting organisations in Australia and overseas were concerned about the impact of hotter weather and increased humidity on human bodies.

“It’s impacting athletes all around the world.”