By Nadine Roberts and Poppy Clark
New Zealand: Palmerston North Boys’ High School rector David Bovey planned to talk to students about the dangers of the game known as “run it straight”, which had exploded in popularity through social media.
But before he could, he learned that ex-pupil Ryan Satterthwaite, 19, had suffered a serious head injury at a property in the New Zealand city on Sunday.
Ryan Satterthwaite died after suffering a serious head injury on Sunday.Credit: Stuff
The teenager’s life support was turned off on Monday night.
“It was only a matter of time before a tragedy happened,” Bovey said on Tuesday afternoon.
Instead of sharing his concerns about the run it straight game at Monday’s school assembly, as planned, he found himself sharing the news of Satterthwaite’s critical condition.
“You could have heard a pin drop,” Bovey said of his students when he told them.
Although Satterthwaite left the school several years ago, Bovey remembered him well.
“He was a good fella,” he said. “Really positive and involved in all areas of school. He was just really engaging.”
Bovey said his thoughts were with Satterthwaite’s grieving family.
“Teenagers aren’t good at assessing risk and consequences, and he was just having fun with his friends. It’s just an absolute tragedy.”
Manawatu Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham said Satterthwaite suffered a serious head injury when tackled and was taken to hospital by his friends.
“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. 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.”
Grantham said police urged anyone thinking about taking part in a game or event like this to “consider the significant safety and injury risks”.
“While this is not a criminal matter, police will continue to undertake enquiries on behalf of the coroner,” he said.
‘Born to go viral’
The run it straight game originated through the Australian-based RUNIT Championship League competition.
An event was held in Melbourne in late April in which eight athletes competed for a prize of $20,000.
“Born to go viral, built to break limits, it has taken social media by storm with tens of millions of views,” RUNIT’s website says.
The competition is built around actions seen in rugby union, rugby league, the NFL and AFL. Opposing individuals – a ball runner and a tackler – stand at each end of a 20m x 4m field, and run full speed at each other with the goal of trying to bowl each other over.
‘It is very clear ... that this is going to result in a death.’
Patria Hume, AUT
RUNIT Championship League released a statement to Stuff on Tuesday afternoon after news of Satterthwaite’s death was made public, saying it did “not encourage any copying of the sport as it should only be done under the strict conditions”.
“This is tragic news, and our hearts go out to the family and friends of Ryan. 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.”
The statement went on to say “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”.
Two RUNIT trials were held at Trusts Arena in West Auckland last week after which one man’s body was seen convulsing on the ground after being hit, and another was knocked out.
Patria Hume, professor of Human Performance at AUT, said those organising “run it straight” events were buying brains and bodies for entertainment with “no thought for the healthcare of the athletes”.
“It is very clear from the number of concussions from the small number of running-at-each-other events that have occurred that this is going to result in a death,” she said.
Two similar events, called Run It Straight, were expected to be held in Mangere and Mt Albert in Auckland, but were cancelled after organisers failed to secure permits despite telling social media they were not allowed by “council” and “parliament”.
Stacey Mowbray, Headway Brain Injury Auckland chief executive, said forceful impacts with “no controls on the type of tackle” meant there was a “high risk of serious brain injury”.
Meanwhile, many of Sattherthwaite’s friends have taken to social media to pay tribute to the teen including one mate who said “fly high in the high heaven my beautiful brother. Love you forever and always my boy. See you in the next chapter”.
Another said “you were always real in a world that’s not. Your gentle spirit touched those who truly knew you. Miss you more than words can say. Never forgotten”.
Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.