Coroner to hold public inquest into death of Manly player Keith Titmuss
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A public inquest into the death of former Manly player Keith Titmuss will be held a fortnight before the Sea Eagles travel to Las Vegas for the historic NRL double-header.
The Herald can reveal the NSW Coroner’s Court has set aside five days in February to investigate the circumstances of Titmuss’ death after a pre-season training session in November 2020.
The inquest is expected to hear from Titmuss’ former teammates and former Manly staff – potentially including ex-coach Des Hasler – as the 20-year-old’s family search for answers.
Titmuss collapsed during a training session and died in hospital on November 23, 2020. An initial report was unable to identify a cause of death.
The inquest is expected to determine what was involved in the training session on the day Titmuss collapsed, and the events from when Titmuss was transported in an ambulance to later being pronounced dead at Royal North Shore Hospital.
Detectives interviewed Sea Eagles players, medical staff and coaching staff during their investigations, but there had been no guarantee it would result in a public inquest.
Keith Titmuss and (inset, from top) Jason Saab, Josh Schuster and Matt Doorey.Credit: Getty, NRL Photos
But on Friday, a NSW Coroner’s Court spokesman said in a statement: “The inquest has been listed for a five-day hearing before His Honour Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee at the NSW Coroner’s Court, Lidcombe, from February 5 to February 9, 2024.”
Titmuss’ former Manly teammates Josh Schuster and Jason Saab have been interviewed by police, as have close friends Wests Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu and Parramatta’s Matt Doorey.
Statements from cardiologists, sports scientists, emergency physicians and various medical experts were requested during the investigation, while Titmuss’ family members were tested to determine whether there was a genetic link to his death.
Titmuss’ family donated his brain to the Australian Sports Brain Bank for research.
Keith Titmuss’ dad Paul, sister Zara, mother Lafo, brother Jesse and nephew Hudson looking over family photos.Credit: James Brickwood
The Sea Eagles posthumously named Titmuss as their 623rd first grade player and presented a Manly jersey with the number on it to his family. The forward was destined to play NRL, potentially as soon as the following season.
A number of former teammates have struggled to deal with the death of Titmuss, who scored Manly’s match-winning try during the 2019 National Youth Competition grand final.
Manly will be deep into their pre-season preparations when the inquest is held.
It will finish less than a fortnight before they travel to the US to play South Sydney in the opening match of the season at Allegiant Stadium.
The Sea Eagles will be the first of the four NRL teams to travel to America, and will spend their preparation exclusively in Las Vegas.
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