The family of Keith Titmuss has commenced legal action against Manly after the former Sea Eagles player died of exertional heatstroke during a training session deemed โmore likely than not inappropriateโ.
A coronial inquest found Titmuss was โmost likely suffering involuntary dehydrationโ when he entered a wrestling gym for a cardio workout at the end of Manlyโs first field session of pre-season training in November 2020.
A paramedic who tended to Titmuss described his body temperature of 41.9 degrees as the โhottest theyโd ever seenโ, with the inquest finding a pre-existing heart condition played no part in his death.
Titmussโ mother Lafo, father Paul and brother Jesse have launched a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Manly in the Supreme Court. The matter is scheduled for a directions hearing next month. The club and the family was contacted for comment.
Another former player, Lloyd Perrett, is also taking legal action against the club after alleging suffering exertional heatstroke, heat stress-induced seizure and psychiatric suffered during a training session in November 2017. The Sea Eagles are defending that matter.
The inquest into the death in March 2024 found Titmuss recorded the lowest score of Manlyโs players during a yo-yo screening test days earlier, and had put on more than four kilograms during his off-season break. Then-coach Des Hasler told the court he rated the training session a โsix or seven out of 10โ as GPS data found Titmuss only covered an average of 47 metres per minute over the course of the session.
Paul and Lafo Titmuss at the grave of their son Keith Titmuss.Credit: Nick Moir
The coronerโs recommendations included that the NRL consider a graduated 14-day return-to-training program for players after extended breaks, that workouts be tailored to each individualโs characteristics and medical personnel should be on standby for sessions in which heat illness is a greater risk.
โItโs been years in the making, understanding the cause of death โ and we now do,โ Lafo said at the conclusion of the inquest.
