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Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE A teenager died taking part in this latest internet craze. Here's why a leading brain doctor believes every parent needs to be warned
Australia's leading brain injury expert says an internet craze labelled 'the world's fiercest new collision sport' and which has already killed a teenager is more dangerous than traditional football codes. Run It Straight is a challenge that's gaining popularity with millions of social media users sharing videos of people smashing into each other. The tackle game features two players and involves a ball runner and a tackler standing 20m apart before they run full speed towards each other without protective gear. The aim is to knock the opponent over. It has even been endorsed by some professional rugby players despite warnings that it could give players head trauma and a brain injury. A Run It Straight event was recently hosted in Auckland, with organisers promoting it as 'the world's fiercest new collision sport,' which rewarded 'strength and grit'. More than 1,000 people watched eight men compete for a $20,000 prize. Winners of that competition were supposed to go to Auckland's Trust Arena for a final competition to compete for $250,000. But the stadium canned the event due to the 'overwhelming concern' the trials caused. 'Following the trials, it was clear from commentary that there was overwhelming concern for the high-risk nature of the event,' the arena's general manager said. A 19-year-old from New Zealand died on Monday after suffering a serious head injury in a backyard version of Run It Straight. Ryan Satterthwaite, from Palmerston North, passed away after taking part in the full-contact collision game with friends when the injury occurred. The death sparked renewed calls for the game to be banned. Dr Rowena Mobbs is a neurologist and the founder and director of the Australian CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) Biobank. She slammed the new craze and told Daily Mail Australia that it was 'not a sport'. 'It is a form of harm and it should be avoided,' she said. 'What we have is data worldwide in terms of concussion and CTE with tackling environments. 'We know that a single traumatic brain injury can be devastating for an individual, leading to lifelong disability or death in some instances. This is likely to involve brain swelling or bleeding.' Dr Mobbs said Run It Straight was even more dangerous than rugby league or Aussie Rules in terms of the brain injury risk. 'In my opinion this is a higher risk scenario than contact sports like the football codes,' she said. 'That's because participants are running at full speed towards each other with a much greater force of impact than on the footy field. 'Parents who have children engaging in this form of harm need to be acutely aware that there could be serous consequences, even death.' Participants of Run It Straight aren't supposed to hit each other in the head but even body shots can impact the brain. Dr Mobbs said whiplash was associated with brain injury. 'In boxing, people sign up knowing the head will be hit, but not in Run It Straight,' she said. Dr Mobbs also said simple concussions were more dangerous and debilitating than most people thought. 'We used to believe that the majority of concussions would resolve pretty quickly but the increasing data suggests otherwise,' she said.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Video: Man appears to have seizure after taking part in 'Run It Straight' collision sport event in Auckland
Two men were knocked out during last night's 'Run It Straight' event held in Auckland, in which two competitors collide at full speed. While one of the men was able to be helped away on his feet after contact, another slumped to the ground and appeared to have a seizure. Auckland Council had previously cancelled two similar events that were planned for this week. A Run It Straight competition at Auckland's Trust Arena on Wednesday night had drawn in more than 1000 people. Eight men put their bodies and brains on the line for $20,000 prize money last night, two of them required medical attention after being knocked out. The winners from this week's trials will progress to a final competition held next month, where the champion is set to receive a prize of $250,000. The sport has a number of high profile endorsements, including Kiwi league legend Manu Vatuvei. "This is one of the contact sports that I love, you know, it's a one-on-one … it just reminds me of training, we used to run at each other and try smash each other, just to get the feel of the contact," he told RNZ. Others RNZ spoke to at the event said they liked the energy of the collision - "the big oomph", one said. Another spectator said they enjoyed the vibes of the sport and the event. "Just the big hits eh, all the hype it brings, the crowd, everything, the atmosphere, they said. One fan told RNZ she was glad the sport was expanding. "I'm glad that this one went through, and now the world can see what type of sport this is, and you know the people who are attracted to it. "It's a good thing for our brothers, but they need to do a woman's one, I'm gonna run it straight," she said. Meanwhile, the sport has been under fire for its risk of head injuries. Wednesday night's event saw knock outs - including one athlete appearing to have a seizure as he hit the ground. When RNZ approached some fans about the criticisms of the sport, some still backed it. "Mind your own business eh, like you know, just let the people be, let them be," one person said. Another commented "the people wanna do it, like why stop them?". Vatuvei said he backed the sport despite the controversy. "I'm just happy that it's here in New Zealand, I know a lot of people hate it and a lot of people love it, I'm one of those people that love it," he said. When asked whether he would be tempted to try the sport himself, he said "I do, I do, honestly I do, but it's one of those things that my mind is telling me one thing but my body is telling me another". Auckland Council said an event planned for Williams Park in Māngere on Wednesday was cancelled, after organisers failed to secure a permit. Another planned for Marist Saints on Thursday has also been scrapped. The council said the organisers did not seek a permit or try to book council sites, but if they had followed the correct process, it was highly unlikely the event would have met its guidelines for approval. Earlier, RNZ spoke to a brain injury support group who said they were "appalled" that the Run It Straight events were being staged across Auckland. Chief executive of the Headway charity Stacey Mowbray said the activity was undoubtedly causing brain injury. She said the format and promotion of the events appeared to exploit financially vulnerable people by offering large cash prizes. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Two men knocked out at 'Run It Straight' collision sport event in Auckland
Two men collide during a 'Run it' sporting event in Auckland. Photo: Supplied / RUNIT CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE via Instagram Two men were knocked out during last night's 'Run It Straight' event held in Auckland, in which two competitors collide at full speed. While one of the men was able to be helped away on his feet after contact, another slumped to the ground and appeared to have a seizure. Auckland Council had previously cancelled two similar events that were planned for this week. A Run It Straight competition at Auckland's Trust Arena on Wednesday night had drawn in more than 1000 people. Eight men put their bodies and brains on the line for $20,000 prize money last night, two of them required medical attention after being knocked out. The winners from this week's trials will progress to a final competition held next month, where the champion is set to receive a prize of $250,000. The sport has a number of high profile endorsements, including Kiwi league legend Manu Vatuvai. "This is one of the contact sports that I love, you know, it's a one on one… it just reminds me of training, we used to run at each other and try smash each other, just to get the feel of the contact," he told RNZ. Others RNZ spoke to at the event said they liked the energy of the collision - "the big oomph", one said. Another spectator said they enjoyed the vibes of the sport and the event. "Just the big hits eh, all the hype it brings, the crowd, everything, the atmosphere, they said. One fan told RNZ she was glad the sport was expanding. "I'm glad that this one went through, and now the world can see what type of sport this is, and you know the people who are attracted to it. "It's a good thing for our brothers, but they need to do a woman's one, I'm gonna run it straight," she said. Meanwhile, the sport has been under fire for its risk of head injuries. Wednesday night's event saw knock outs - including one athlete appearing to have a seizure as he hit the ground. When RNZ approached some fans about the criticisms of the sport, some still backed it. "Mind your own business eh, like you know, just let the people be, let them be," one person said. Another commented "the people wanna do it, like why stop them?". Vatuvai said he backed the sport despite the controversy. "I'm just happy that it's here in New Zealand, I know a lot of people hate it and a lot of people love it, I'm one of those people that love it," he said. When asked whether he would be tempted to try the sport himself, he said "I do, I do, honestly I do, but it's one of those things that my mind is telling me one thing but my body is telling me another". Auckland Council said an event planned for Williams Park in Māngere on Wednsday was cancelled, after organisers failed to secure a permit. Another planned for Marist Saints on Thursday has also been scrapped. The council said the organisers did not seek a permit or try to book council sites, but if they had followed the correct process, it was highly unlikely the event would have met its guidelines for approval. Earlier, RNZ spoke to a brain injury support group who said they were "appalled" that the Run It Straight events were being staged across Auckland. Chief executive of the Headway charity Stacey Mowbray said the activity was undoubtedly causing brain injury. She said the format and promotion of the events appeared to exploit financially vulnerable people by offering large cash prizes. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
