Latest news with #headinjury
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Teenager's death sparks condemnation of viral rugby-style tackle game
New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is joining a chorus of condemnation for a viral rugby tackle challenge after a teenager died from a head injury. Ryan Satterthwaite, 19, died in Palmerston North on Monday. The teenager had taken part in the 'run it straight' tackle challenge, which sees competitors with no protective gear run head-on at each other, with a group of friends. The game, which has garnered significant attention on social media, aims to imitate the collisions that occur when rugby players clash. "All I can say to young adults who are participating is you've got some personal responsibility in this," Mr Luxon told local media on Friday. "You're hearing the advice from police, from the medical fraternity, from government, from principals saying don't do it. "To the adults that are involved in more formal organisation of it and are influencing it and leading this out on social media, I think you need to stop and I can't be any clearer. "The evidence is that it's a dumb thing to do and you should stop." Organised "run it straight" competitions have been held in Australia and New Zealand over the past year. The trend has attracted widespread condemnation from politicians and the New Zealand medical community, particularly those working in the field of head injuries. New Zealand Rugby, which along with the rest of the rugby world over the last decade has been looking at ways to reduce head injuries in the game, extended its condolences to Mr Satterthwaite's family in a statement earlier this week. "We urge people not to take part in run it straight games or competitions as they carry significant risk of serious injury," the statement read. "Those wanting to play contact sports should register for a school or club team and learn in a controlled and safe environment how to tackle safely and the art of evasion." Police Inspector Ross Grantham said Mr Satterthwaite's death was an 'absolute tragedy'. '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,' Mr 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. 'We would urge anyone thinking about taking part in a game or event like this to consider the significant safety and injury risks.'
Reuters
3 days ago
- Health
- Reuters
New Zealand PM condemns 'dumb' viral rugby tackle challenge after teen death
May 30 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has joined the condemnation of the "run it straight" rugby tackle challenge that has gone viral on social media after a teenager died from a serious head injury earlier this week. Ryan Satterthwaite, 19, died in the city of Palmerston North on Monday after taking part in the challenge that aims to emulate the collisions that occur when muscle-bound rugby players come together on the field. "All I can say to young adults who are participating is you've got some personal responsibility in this," Luxon told local media on Friday. "You're hearing the advice from police, from the medical fraternity, from government, from principals saying don't do it. "To the adults that are involved in more formal organisation of it and are influencing it and leading this out on social media, I think you need to stop and I can't be any clearer. "The evidence is that it's a dumb thing to do and you should stop." Organised "run it straight" competitions, where competitors with no protection run at each other on a 20-metre grass strip for cash prizes, have been held in Australia and New Zealand over the last year. The trend has attracted widespread condemnation from politicians and the New Zealand medical community, particularly those working in the field of head injuries. New Zealand Rugby, which along with the rest of the rugby world over the last decade has been looking at ways of reducing head injuries in the game, extended its condolences to Satterthwaite's family in a statement earlier this week. "We urge people not to take part in run it straight games or competitions as they carry significant risk of serious injury," it read. "Those wanting to play contact sports should register for a school or club team and learn in a controlled and safe environment how to tackle safely and the art of evasion."
RNZ News
4 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Big cash prices driving those to RUN It game
sport health 29 minutes ago 19 year old Ryan Satterthwaite suffered a catastrophic head injury while playing a version of Run It Straight. Since the death some high profile sports people and organisations have come out warning of the dangers of the craze being promoted on social media. Two participants at an Official Run it Championship trial held in Auckland last week were knocked out. Former league star Manu Vatuvei who played for the Warriors and New Zealand team, was there and endorsed the game saying he loved it and he is happy its here in New Zealand. David Letele spoke to Lisa Owen.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
'Don't do it': Former All Black warns against taking part in Run It as schools act to ban viral trend
RUNIT Auckland. Trusts Stadium. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Photosport A former All Black has answered the call of a bereaved family and spoken out about the dangers of Run It -style games. Saveatama Eroni Clarke, the Pasifika Engagement Manager for NZ Rugby, says his advice for anyone considering taking part is simple: "Don't do it". His words come after the death of 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite in Palmerston North this week. He suffered a head injury when playing a Run It-style game with friends and his uncle Pete has called on social media influences and sports stars to [ speak out about the dangers] of such games. Clarke told Checkpoint today it would be hard to ban the game, but he encouraged people to stay away and, if they wanted to take part in a contact sport, join a rugby team and receive proper coaching. That message was echoed by NZ Rugby in a statement. "There's too much risk involved doing these. We've seen now the extreme of it and the high risk that it brings - head trauma," Clarke said. Top-level players were told not to back Run It events due to the dangers and risks associated with them. "That's been the message to the players - you can't be seen to support something like this." Former All Black Steve Devine , who has suffered from the after-effects on concussion, also didn't mince his words. "It's a recipe for disaster having two large forces meet and the sudden impact or sudden stoppage for either person generally doesn't bode very well for the brain." However, after training today New Zealand Warriors James Fisher-Harris and Adam Pompey, and coach Andrew Webster, weren't keen to discuss the issue, saying they weren't aware of it. Ryan Satterthwait's former school, Palmerston North Boys' High School, had already planned to discuss the issue at its assembly on Monday before it heard what happened to him. And other schools were also confronting the social media-fed fad. Gisborne Boys' High School told its 820 students that Run It games were banned on Monday, just hours before Satterthwaite's life support was turned off, said headmaster Tom Cairns. "We had an incident last week where we had a game of Run It Straight started up and staff on duty on the back fields saw it and stopped it pretty promptly. "It's something that's obviously captured the attention of the New Zealand public and our boys are no different," he said. "We're not going to have boys taking part in something like that. The way we discussed it was, it's basically violence. "There's no real sporting aspect to it. I don't see anyone going to Run It Straight practice after school. It's really just people lining up and assaulting each other." If it's played at school it would be regarded as fighting, he said. Ryan Satterthwaite. Photo: Instagram The school worked closely with the Mātai Medical Research Institute and Cairns planned to ask one of its experts to speak to the boys and show the effect of traumatic brain impacts. In Auckland, Rowandale Primary school principal Karl Vassau said its board of trustees would meet tonight to discuss how it could respond. "With that type of activity it seems like something that lots of our children will find pretty cool and interesting to watch. "What we are wanting to make sure is that our children know that it is unsafe and if they were to start playing this type of game at school that is definitely not acceptable." The Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board had banned run it straight events from parks in its area and board chairman Tauanu'u Nick Bakulich said it was asking schools to act too. "We see no value of these events so we are very concerned, given what we know in regards concussion and head injuries. "We, as a board, will be writing to our local principal associations for schools to be vigilant and ensure they shut down any similar-type activities that are held on their school grounds." Sport NZ board member Fauono Ken Laban says Run It Straight is not a sport. He said it was a hyped up social media creation of uncontrolled violence with no rules and no laws. The tragic death of Satterthwaite at the weekend was a stark reminder it should be banned from public parks, he said. Satterthwaite's death was a complete waste of life in an event that is a waste of time. The former police officer, league player and coach said he didn't know what Sport NZ could do because they don't regard it as a sport. He said Run It was an immature attempt of fake toughness.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Sport NZ board member and former police office on RUNIT craze
sport health 24 minutes ago Ryan Satterthwaite suffered a catastrophic head injury and died on Monday after playing a version of the game where competitors plough into each other at full speed with no protective gear. At an official Run-it Championship trials event in Auckland at the weekend two competitors were knocked unconcious. There's a $200,000 cash prize for the winner of the finals. The Minister for Sport has asked for urgent advice from Sport New Zealand on the issue. Fauono Ken Laban former police officer, league player and coach and board member of Sport NZ spoke to Lisa Owen.
