- Keith Titmuss died while training in 2020
- Suffered from heat stroke during exertion
- A coronial inquest is being held into his death
Former Manly Sea Eagles stars Moses Suli and Sione Fainu have recalled the moment they saw their teammate Keith Titmuss screaming after he collapsed in training.
The 20-year-old lost consciousness during pre-season training at the team’s headquarters on Sydney’s Northern Beaches on November 23, 2020.
A coronial investigation revealed that several experts had concluded that he was suffering from heat stroke when he suffered an attack after the first training session.
Mr Titmuss was rushed to hospital where he suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.
On Tuesday, a coronial inquest into his sudden death heard from former Manly star and current St George Illawarra player Moses Suli.
He told Lidcombe Coroners Court that he saw Mr Titmuss lying on the floor of the indoor gym after the “quite tough” workout.
“He was just laying there screaming,” he said.
“I couldn’t do anything.”
St George Illawarra Dragons player Moses Suli told the inquest he saw his teammate screaming after he collapsed
Wests Tiger player Sione Fainu said the training had been very strenuous
Former Manly star and current West Tigers player Sione Fainu said he heard Mr Titmuss complaining of cramps after the session ended.
He went to take a shower, but ran back into the room when he heard Mr Titmuss shouting.
Both players were transported onwards by the coaching staff when an ambulance arrived to rush the 20-year-old to hospital, where he died later that day.
Mr Fainu told the inquest that he had spoken to Mr Titmuss before the training session and that everything was “sweet” and “normal”.
He explained that it was a “pretty hot day” and rated the training a nine out of ten in terms of intensity.
Mr Fainu saw Mr Titmuss struggling during the exercises but said it was not unusual as “everyone was struggling”.
There was an opportunity to take a break if you were having a hard time, he explained, but no one took advantage of that opportunity. Instead, they encouraged each other to complete the session.
“We had to push through, push through. Everyone was pushing Keith,” Fainu told police.
However, the inquest heard on Monday that former head coach Des Hasler described the training as “not (an) overly strenuous or taxing session”
Titmuss’ former teammate Ben Trbojevic will also testify before Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee on Tuesday.