Teenager dies after private run it straight-style game in New Zealand, need for medical supervision emphasised

A teenager has passed away in New Zealand after suffering head injuries taking part in a social-media inspired ‘Run it Straight’ trend, high-profile organiser warns about need for professional medical supervision.

A 19-year-old New Zealand man has tragically died after suffering a head injury while playing a private ‘Run it Straight’ style game.

Multiple sources have identified the teenager as Ryan Satterthwaite, who was taken to hospital by friends, but passed away on Monday night.

The incident happened on Sunday afternoon at an impromptu tackle game in the North Island town of Palmerston North, according to Manawatu Area Commander, police inspector Ross Grantham.

“The man suffered a serious head injury when tackled, and was taken to hospital by his friends,” Grantham said. “Tragically, he passed away in hospital on Monday night.”

Grantham said the accident was “an absolute travesty” that was inspired by the new, social media-driven craze that labels itself “the world’s fiercest, new collision sport,” according to its website.

“The tackle game played by the group of friends was based on a social media-driven trend, where participants compete in full-contact collisions without protective gear,” Grantham said.

“While this was an impromptu game among friends, not a planned event, this tragic outcome does highlight the inherent safety concerns with such an activity.

“While this is not a criminal matter, Police will continue to undertake inquiries on behalf of the Coroner.”

RUNIT – the new sport’s most high profile organiser – responded to Code Sports’ questions on Tuesday afternoon, defending the safety of its events, and warning against taking part in similar Run It Straight challenges without proper medical supervision.

“This is tragic news and our hearts go out to the family and friends of Ryan,” RUNIT said in a statement.

“Any contact sport like boxing, martial arts or combat-style activities should only be held in highly-controlled environments, which include professional medical supervision and support.

“All RUNIT events follow established protocols including screening of participants for suitability, strict guidelines around where and how to tackle (between the shoulders and hips only), with qualified medical support and medical assessments conducted both during and after competition.

“We do not encourage any copying of the sport as it should only be done under the strict conditions outlined above in sanctioned RUNIT events.”

‘RUNIT’ has become an online viral sensation over the past few months, and has attracted tens of millions of views across social media.

The sport involves two competitors – an attacker with a rugby ball, and a defender – running at each other from opposite ends of a 20 metre field.

“Victory belongs to the one who dominates the collision,” the RUNIT website says. “RUNIT is fast, intense, and raw.

“It rewards strength and grit. Designed for live crowds and global broadcasts, RUNIT delivers real athletes and the biggest collisions.”

Videos of the biggest hits, which sometimes leave competitors concussed, and in other cases convulsing on the ground, have gone viral since the trend exploded on social media this year.

RUNIT and Run It Straight event organisers have been contacted for comment.

Run it straight events first started as a grassroots movement straight from rugby league and union training fields.

Videos of the heavy collisions started doing the rounds on social media in January, before organised competitions were eventually formed.

RUNIT organisers believe their new sport can rival the UFC in popularity one day, and staged a massive event at the Melbourne Pavilion in April, with a $20,000 prize awarded to the winner.

Organisers of RUNIT say they have a strict set of rules and medical professionals on hand to assess competitors at their organised events.

And while it’s clips of massive contact and knockouts that go viral on the internet, supporters of the sport argue proper tackling technique is key.

AFL star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was an ambassador for the event, while former Rabbitohs forward George Burgess competed against ex-rugby union Test winger Nemani Nadolo in an exhibition Run It straight challenge.

Former Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei was at a subsequent event in Auckland last week alongside Warriors half Chanel Harris-Tavita and UFC stars Carlos Ulberg and Navajo Stirling.

Melbourne Storm stars Ryan Papenhuyzen, Jahrome Hughes, Will Warbrick and Nelson Asofa-Solomona were spotted watching a RUNIT event in Melbourne in March.

Despite the underground following, RUNIT has attracted intense criticism.

“I just cannot understand how they could take the most violent aspect of sport and just turn it into a spectacle where the objective is just to try and knock out or hurt your opponent,” leading Australian sports neurologist Dr Alan Pearce told news.com.au earlier this month.

“In a lot of these other sports (such as NRL, AFL and rugby union) you’re trying to avoid direct contact whereas this is purely running at each other, it’s insanity.”

Originally published as Teenager dies after private run it straight-style game in New Zealand, need for medical supervision emphasised