澳大利亚橄榄球联赛（NRL）曼利海鹰队球员基斯·蒂特穆斯（Keith Titmuss）于2020年11月23日在训练中因热中风身亡。[1]法庭文件显示，当时室内训练馆未开启冷却风扇，俱乐部未遵循自身热病防护政策。[1]冠状验尸调查裁定蒂特穆斯的死亡源于过度运动导致的热中风和脱水，并认为更可能是不当的训练方式所致。[1]
事发当日，室外气温为21.3摄氏度、湿度达92%。[1]蒂特穆斯的体温升至41.9度，被救护车工作人员形容为他们见过最高的体温。[1]训练前四天的测试显示，蒂特穆斯的体质是训练队伍中最低的。[1]蒂特穆斯家族已向新南威尔士州最高法院提起数百万美元诉讼寻求赔偿，并据称从NRL和俱乐部保险公司获得约100万美元赔偿。[1]
此前另一名前球员劳埃德·佩雷特（Lloyd Perrett）也在2017年11月训练期间因热中风提起诉讼。[1]俱乐部医生卢克·英曼博士（Dr Luke Inman）在佩雷特事件后制定了热病政策。[1]
Keith Titmuss, a player for the Manly Sea Eagles rugby league club, died from exertional heat stroke on November 23, 2020, during a training session at the club's dojo facility in Narrabeen, Sydney.[1] A coronal inquest determined that his death resulted from heat stroke and dehydration brought on by excessive exercise, with the finding suggesting the cause was "more likely than not" improper training practices.[1] His core body temperature reached 41.9 degrees Celsius, described by paramedics as the highest they had ever recorded.[1]
Court documents reveal that the Manly Sea Eagles failed to follow its own heat illness policy during the fatal session, most notably by not activating large standing cooling fans in the training facility.[1] Testing conducted four days before his death showed that Titmuss had the lowest fitness level among players in the training squad.[1] Weather conditions on the day included an outdoor temperature of 21.3 degrees Celsius and humidity of 92 percent.[1] The indoor training dojo lacked air conditioning.[1]
Titmuss's family has pursued legal action against the club and insurance companies, reportedly receiving approximately one million dollars in compensation from the NRL and the club's insurers.[1] The case follows another incident involving former player Lloyd Perrett, who also suffered heat stroke during training in November 2017 and subsequently initiated legal proceedings.[1] Dr. Luke Inman, the club's physician, established the heat illness policy following the Perrett incident in 2017.[1]