'Not worth the risk': what is 'Run It Straight', the social media game linked to death of teenager?

ITV News

2 days ago

A 19-year-old from New Zealand has died after taking part in a rugby tackle game based on a trend known as 'Run It Straight'.
Ryan Satterthwaite died on Monday night after he sustained a serious head injury when he was tackled in a game with friends.
Manawatū police area commander Inspector Ross Grantham said Satterthwaite had died "as a result of participating in what I understand to be a social media frenzy".
He said the teenager's death highlighted the "inherent safety concerns with such an activity".
'Run It Straight' has long been played casually in Australia and New Zealand, but has recently gained new found popularity through social media. The trend has been criticised by neuroscientists and brain injury specialists.
What is it, and why is it considered so dangerous?
What is 'Run It Straight'?
The tackle game features two players, where a ball runner and a tackler stand on either end of a 20m x 4m field and run full speed toward each other, without protective gear, with the aim of knocking the other over.
The challenge has been gaining traction on social media over recent weeks, with videos on TikTok and Instagram clocking millions of views.
It has even been endorsed by some professional rugby players, despite warnings that it could give players head trauma and brain injury.
Is this a legitimate sport?
A championship Run It Straight event was recently hosted in Auckland, with organisers Runit promoting the sport on its website as 'the world's fiercest new collision sport,' which rewards 'strength and grit'.
More than 1,000 people turned up to watch eight men compete for $20,000 prize money.
Some participants were injured during their matches, and one video showed a man appearing to have a seizure after colliding with his rival.
Winners were due to head to Auckland's Trust Arena for a final competition next month to compete for a prize of up to $250,000.
However, the stadium now says it will not host the event due to the 'overwhelming concern' the trials caused.
The arena's general manager told local media: "Following the trials, it was clear from commentary that there was overwhelming concern for the high-risk nature of the event."
What are the concerns around the trend?
The trend has been criticised by neuroscientists and brain injury specialists for its risk of serious brain trauma.
Headway is a charity which promotes understanding around the effects of brain injuries. They say games like Run It Straight can have "devastating life changing and life-long consequences".
"Trends like this are dangerous because they encourage copycat behaviour often among young people who may not fully understand the serious risks involved," Colin Morris, director of communictations at Headway told ITV News.
"Participants will often have no medical supervision or support on hand if something goes wrong. One blow to the head can result in death or lead to permanent damage, affecting memory, mood, mobility, and even personality.
"It's simply not worth the risk."
What kind of injuries could be caused by the trend?
Headway says the challenge carries a "high-risk of potentially life-threatening injuries." According to Morris, the forceful collisions involved could lead to a traumatic brain injury, and some of the most serious risks involved include:
Bleeds on the brain (intracranial haemorrhages): A sudden impact can rupture blood vessels in the brain, leading to bleeding that increases pressure inside the skull. If not treated quickly, this can cause permanent brain damage or death.
Swelling of the brain (cerebral oedema): The trauma can cause the brain to swell, which also increases pressure in the skull and can restrict blood flow, depriving the brain of oxygen.
Diffuse axonal injury (DAI): The sheer force of a sudden stop or change in movement - like whiplash or a jolting motion - can cause the brain to shift violently within the skull. This can stretch or tear the delicate fibres that connect different parts of the brain. This injury is often associated with comas, or permanent cognitive or physical impairments.
Second Impact Syndrome (SIS): If someone sustains a concussion and then receives a second blow before the brain has fully healed - as could happen in multiple rounds of Run It Straight - they are at risk of Second Impact Syndrome. This can be a fatal condition caused by rapid swelling of the brain.
Morris told ITV News that in extreme cases, these injuries can even result in death.
"For people who survive a brain injury, it can be profound and affect every part of a person's life," he says, "people shouldn't participate in these challenges full stop.
"We urge individuals not to take part in or promote this reckless trend. No viral moment is worth risking your health, your future or your life.
"Viral trends come and go, but the effects of brain injury can be life long and permanent."