Latest news with #runitstraight
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Family of teenager who died playing ‘run it straight' make heartbreaking revelation
The family of Ryan Satterthwaite, who tragically died from injuries sustained in a backyard 'run it straight' game, has revealed the teenager and his friends got the idea to play the game after seeing it online. For years the 'run it straight' trend has sporadically gone viral on social media platforms. But in recent months it has transformed from a viral social media trend to a fully-fledged sport, with 'Run it Straight Official' and 'RUNIT Championship League' turning it into a business and holding competitions in Australia and New Zealand. The sport involves four rounds of players charging at each other along a 10m grass runway, with each competitor taking turns carrying a rugby ball. The objective is to either successfully tackle the opponent or run them over in a hard-hitting collision. The contest ends when a player is knocked out or concussed. If both players remain standing at the end of four rounds, a judging panel decides the winner, with the key criteria judged being damage to your opponent. But the 'sport' has been controversial due to the violent nature of some of the tackles, as leading neuroscientists warn 'people will die'. And that grave warning has now rang true, with Kiwi teenager Ryan Satterthwaite dying from what was described as an 'innocuous' tackle playing a backyard game of 'run it straight' on the weekend. According to Ryan's uncle, Peter Satterthwaite, his nephew and his friends decided to try it at a 21st birthday celebration on Sunday after seeing the big hits on social media. 'They decided to give it a go because of what they saw on social media and on the news last week about it,' Satterthwaite told Stuff. Footage of the tackle that resulted in the injuries that would later take the life of Ryan, was given to police. The video of the tackle in question reportedly didn't even hit his head, instead it was the jolting motion of the hit that proved fatal. Satterthwaite says in the aftermath of the game, his nephew was coherent and talking with his friends but soon deteriorated at a rapid rate. An ambulance was called to the home in Palmerston North but he went downhill at such a rate, his friends decided they couldn't wait for it to arrive, rushing him to Palmerston North Hospital. By the time they arrived Ryan had lost consciousness due to the swelling on his brain. He would never wake up. Dr Alan Pearce warns 'it will happen again' Leading sports neuroscientist Dr Alan Pearce told that it was sadly 'only a matter of time' until someone died playing the sport. 'This was a matter of time really as sad as that is to say,' Dr Pearce told on Tuesday. 'The concern is that this can happen at any level. Even in the sanctioned 'run it' events someone will probably die in that at some point as well. 'It can't be done safely and when there's kids and teens that see it they like to copy what they see online, and this is something that absolutely not should be copied. 'It is the biggest please do not try this at home disclaimer if I've ever seen one'. That message was echoed by Satterthwaite, who told Stuff: 'We can put it all out on social media that this is a silly thing to do. Don't do it but no-one's going to listen to us unless we get celebrities on board.' After the teen's death made waves RUNIT Championship League organisers released a statement saying they 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.' But that response only infuriated Peter Satterthwaite who said that they are 'dumb' if they think that would stop another fatality from happening. 'That's just their bullsh** line to justify what they're trying to do,' he continued. 'What did they think was going to happen? They'd be dumb if they thought nobody was going to get hurt. They said on the news they have a medical professional on standby. But a medical professional wouldn't have helped Ryan one little bit.' New Zealand rugby stars urge caution amid tragic death On Wednesday night, New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) issued a statement, saying: 'NZRL is not associated with nor encourages participation in any events or collision sports like Runit.' 'It's concerning to see people in these events putting themselves at risk of serious injury, and we strongly encourage our rugby league community to only participate in games or events organised or sanctioned by NZRL, our zones and districts, or our associates,' the statement continued. 'In doing so, we can control and mitigate the health and safety of all involved.' While New Zealand rugby stars urged people to not participate in the violent sport. Former All Black halfback Steve Devine told Radio NZ the game was a 'recipe for disaster' and believes it should be banned. While All Blacks star Ardie Savea admitted he had participated in something similar during his youth and said it was therefore hard to condemn it without being a hypocrite. 'It's a tough one,' Ardie Savea said at Moana Pasifika training on Thursday. 'I don't know the precautions they take in terms of the head side of things and you can see the other side and understand why they're doing it and whatnot. 'It's hard because it's kind of made me the rugby player I am – I used to do run it straights in the backyard with Bus (brother Julian Savea) – so you kind of see both sides. 'It's really hard to say, but I'd just encourage people to be safe.' New Zealand government moves to crack down on controversial spot The future of 'run it straight' now hangs in the balance in New Zealand, with the Government seeking advice on what they can do about the controversial sport. Sport NZ group chief executive Raelene Castle told the New Zealand Herald it was concerned about the emergence of the sport, 'which clearly comes with significant health and safety risks'. 'Both Sport NZ and High-Performance Sport NZ (HPSNZ) are committed to fostering safe and inclusive activities and events for all New Zealanders. 'We are working to facilitate a cross-agency discussion with those who have an interest in this area on what a Government approach to the operation of combat sport, including the emergence of activities and events like run it straight, in New Zealand could look like.' Castle strongly advised people against participating in run it or any activities that encourage high-speed collisions. While New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon labelled Satterthwaite's death an 'absolute tragedy' on Friday morning and said competing in the viral trend was 'a dumb thing to do'. 'When it's happening at a 21st birthday party unofficially, that is not something the Government can solve through legislation or through regulation,' Luxon said. 'All I can say to young adults who are participating is you've got some personal responsibility in this. You're hearing the advice from the police, from the medical fraternity, from the Government, from principals saying don't do it. 'To the adults that are involved in the 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.'
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Parents of teen who died playing bull rush 22 years ago want community to condemn Run It trend
A RunIt event in Auckland. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Photosport There are mounting calls for sports stars and influencers to come out publicly against the dangers of the run it straight craze, including from the family of a man who died of head trauma over 20 years ago. This week Palmerston North 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite died when he was injured in a tackle game with friends. His uncle Pete has issued a public plea for rugby and rugby players, and social media influencers, to use their platforms to speak out about the risks. That plea has received further backing. William Cranswick was also 19 when he died after suffering head injuries in a game of bull rush following a night drinking at notorious Palmerston North bar The Fitz in September 2003. The tragedy 22 years ago was brought back home to his parents Rod and Belinda this week when they heard the news of Ryan Satterthwaite. "Ryan's death really touched a raw nerve with us. These deaths are highly preventable," Rod Cranswick said. "We totally understand the suffering and pain that Ryan's family are going through. It's a parent's worst nightmare." Rod and Belinda Cranswick heard Pete Satterthwaite's call for action on RNZ. "We endorse Pete's comment. I thought he spoke very very well and right to the point re sports stars condemning this behaviour," Rod Cranswick said. "It's not up to the politicians to legislate, but this is a community responsibility and everyone needs to step up to the mark and condemn this activity." He said that would even extend to, for example, people walking past a park who might see something taking place. "I think if someone does have the guts to go and say, 'Listen, this can lead to a tragedy. This has already happened on a couple of occasions.' Just have the guts to try and influence them to stop it." Ryan Satterthwaite. Photo: Instagram And influencing people to stop taking part in Run It was what Rod Cranswick hoped people with public recognition would do, so the message got through. "Young people are really influenced by social media and also sports stars - they have a huge influence on our young. They are the role models and followed religiously. "We need to listen to our medical experts, who are also condemning this behaviour. "In our case having to switch off Willie's life support because of a severe brain injury was our worst nightmare." At Ryan Satterthwaite's old college, Palmerston North Boys' High School, Rector David Bovey had already planned to speak to students about Run It this week. Like a growing number of schools it's banned the craze, and Bovey said when news about Satterthwaite came through it added weight to the warnings. "I spoke to the seniors again yesterday about the risks involved. We talked about Ryan and the fact that could be any one of the boys sitting in front of me, because [they] don't think about consequences, it's as simple as that. "What seems like a bit of fun can have a devastating impact, as we've seen." This week's incident was top of mind at the school, so much so that when there was a collision on the school's courts between two students some immediately asked if they were playing Run It Straight. They weren't. "But, I guess with what's happened there's a really heightened awareness of what's going on. I don't think it's going to stop kids from playing, but we've told the boys categorically not to get involved in it at school." Bovey also backs the call for people with social media presence to speak out. Principals' Federation vice-president Jason Miles said even children supposedly too young to use social media were influenced by it, although the Run It craze hadn't spread too far through primary schools. When a viral craze arose, knowing when to say something was tricky. "It can be a catch 22, because if you talk about them you're also informing children about them, including those who haven't had access to them. "It's a balancing act that principals need to take because it's looking at the safety of the children who are perhaps being influenced, but also trying not for it to be a wider problem." There is no nationwide edict from officials to schools about Run It. Ministry of Education leader of operations and integration Sean Teddy said schools had autonomy to make rules on many matters. "We know that health and safety is a priority for all schools, and we are confident that the decisions they make will reflect their strong commitment to creating safe, supportive, and inclusive environments where all students can thrive." He said the ministry was available to provide advice and guidance where needed. "While schools are not required to inform the ministry of the rules they adopt, we would expect schools to communicate with and, where appropriate, consult their parent communities as part of the decision-making process."
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Warriors distance themselves from 'run it straight'
RUNIT Auckland. Trusts Stadium. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Photosport The rugby league community is ensuring they distance themselves from the controversial new collision trend known as 'run it straight.' Calls are growing louder to ban the game in the wake of a teenager's death in Palmerston North. Ryan Satterthwaite, 19, died after suffering a catastrophic head injury while playing a version of the game. Though several copycat leagues have appeared, the pre-eminent and most popular is the RunIt Championship League. Current Warriors halfback Chanel Harris-Tavita has appeared in promotions for RunIt, advertised as a 'special guest' for the first night of trials in Auckland. When RNZ contacted the club for comment, a spokesman insisted the Warriors had nothing to do with the organisation. Coach Andrew Webster said he is not across the new collision craze. "I'm not a social media man so I don't know too much about it." Asked whether it could affect perceptions of the NRL, Webster said he didn't want to make an uneducated statement. "I honestly don't know enough about it, any contact sport should be done in a safe environment, but I'm focused on our game." Former Warrior and current club mentor Manu Vatuvei spoke at the second night of trials. "I know a lot of people hate it, and a lot of people love it. I'm one of those people who love it," he said at the time. Other notable athletes to have previously endorsed RunIt include current UFC light heavyweights Carlos Ulberg and Navajo Stirling. Former All Black Saveatama Eroni Clarke, the Pasifika engagement manager for NZ Rugby told Checkpoint Satterthwaite's death was a tragedy. Regulations that focus on health and safety need to be put in place, Clarke said. His message to young people is: "Don't do it, there's too much risk involved, we've seen now the extreme of it and the high risk that it brings - head trauma and other things that it brings as well." Saveatama Eroni Clarke. Photo: Supplied "I think about my own children and I think about Caleb and I'm thinking about his brothers and I'm thinking well certainly if there is a contact sport that I want them to play it's rugby." Young people who want to play a contact sport should join rugby, where there is good coaching and safety is in mind, he said. His message to high profile players is: "We can't be seen to support something like this."
CTV News
5 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
New Zealand teenager dies after taking part in rugby-inspired craze
A Team Canada rugby ball sits on the turf prior to a men's match between Scotland and Canada in Ottawa on Saturday, July 6, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Sydney, Australia — A teenager has died in New Zealand after taking part in a rugby-inspired craze that sees participants sprint into each other head-on with no protective gear, police said Tuesday. Fuelled by social media and sometimes playing out in front of large crowds, the 'run-it-straight' challenge has swept across New Zealand and Australia. Organized run-it-straight competitions offer thousands of dollars in prize money but the trend has ignited fears of concussion and other serious injuries. A 19-year-old died in New Zealand's North Island after playing the game with friends over the weekend, police said in a statement. 'The man suffered a serious head injury when tackled and was taken to hospital by friends,' police inspector Ross Grantham said. 'Tragically, he passed away in hospital on Monday night. 'We would urge anyone thinking about taking part in a game or event like this to consider the significant safety and injury risks.' Grantham said the teenager had been taking part in an 'impromptu game among friends', rather than a planned event. '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.' 'Horrendous' Organized run-it-straight events have drawn interest from ex-professional rugby players. Former Leicester, Montpellier and Fiji winger Nemani Nadolo was a celebrity participant at one event earlier this year. Experts have likened the craze to a combat sport, warning that participants face serious concussion risks. One organized competition based in Australia described it as the 'world's fiercest, new collision sport'. It involved one runner and one tackler charging into each other from 20 metres (65 feet) apart, the competition said. A run-it-straight event in New Zealand's largest city Auckland was briefly halted last week when a participant started convulsing on the ground, local media reported. Brain injury charity Headway has condemned the competitions. 'There's some horrendous and really distressing videos,' chief executive Stacey Mowbray told national broadcaster Radio New Zealand. 'Going into seizure, having obvious brain injury, that's what we can see.' Rugby and other sports are grappling with an emerging body of evidence linking head contact with degenerative brain disease. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, is known to cause violent moods, dementia and depression. Injuries from head blows have also been linked to other disorders such as motor neurone disease, early onset dementia, epilepsy and Parkinson's disease.
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
NZ teen dies after taking part in rugby-inspired craze
Rugby is grappling with an emerging body of evidence linking head contact with degenerative brain disease. (EPA Images pic) SYDNEY : A teenager has died in New Zealand after taking part in a rugby-inspired craze that sees participants sprint into each other head-on with no protective gear, police said today. Fuelled by social media and sometimes playing out in front of large crowds, the 'run-it-straight' challenge has swept across New Zealand and Australia. Organised run-it-straight competitions offer thousands of dollars in prize money but the trend has ignited fears of concussion and other serious injuries. A 19-year-old died in New Zealand's North Island after playing the game with friends over the weekend, police said in a statement. 'The man suffered a serious head injury when tackled and was taken to hospital by friends,' police inspector Ross Grantham said. 'Tragically, he passed away in hospital on Monday night. 'We would urge anyone thinking about taking part in a game or event like this to consider the significant safety and injury risks.' Grantham said the teenager had been taking part in an 'impromptu game among friends', rather than a planned event. '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.' 'Horrendous' Organised run-it-straight events have drawn interest from ex-professional rugby players. Former Leicester, Montpellier and Fiji winger Nemani Nadolo was a celebrity participant at one event earlier this year. Experts have likened the craze to a combat sport, warning that participants face serious concussion risks. One organised competition based in Australia described it as the 'world's fiercest, new collision sport'. It involved one runner and one tackler charging into each other from 20m apart, the competition said. A run-it-straight event in New Zealand's largest city Auckland was briefly halted last week when a participant started convulsing on the ground, local media reported. Brain injury charity Headway has condemned the competitions. 'There's some horrendous and really distressing videos,' chief executive Stacey Mowbray told national broadcaster Radio New Zealand. 'Going into seizure, having obvious brain injury, that's what we can see.' Rugby and other sports are grappling with an emerging body of evidence linking head contact with degenerative brain disease. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, is known to cause violent moods, dementia and depression. Injuries from head blows have also been linked to other disorders such as motor neurone disease, early onset dementia, epilepsy and Parkinson's disease.
