Latest news with #RunItStraight
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Ex-Kiwi Dean Lonergan warns ill-equipped participants of high injury risk from collision games
Dean Lonergan says doctors are at the bottom of the cliff "cleaning up the mess" during organised events, such as Run It Straight. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / People are putting themselves at enormous risk of serious injury because they are taking multiple big hits to bodies that are often "out of shape", former Kiwi league player Dean Longeran says. Controversy over the viral tackle game has heightened since the death of 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite on Monday. His uncle, Pete Satterthwaite, has called for high profile sports stars and social media influencers to take a stand against it . Former All Blacks Eroni Clarke and Steve Devine are among those who have been highly critical. On Thursday Lonergan, a former boxing promoter and rugby league star, said he had seen Run It Straight clashes on social media and it soon became obvious to him the encounters were "not the smartest thing you could do". When two men weighing around 120kg each bashed into other at around 25kmh, "what happens is this enormous kinetic energy is coming together. Bodies stop but brains keep going forward". In sports there were similar collisions sometimes resulting in players being knocked out, Lonergan said. However, with Run it Straight encounters, "you don't get the sheer size and force of what's going on and I think there's going to be potentially a lot of brain injuries come out of this and potentially lesser injuries, broken ribs, broken sternums, dislocated shoulders". On social media, knock-outs were being celebrated even though men could be seen going into spasms and their arms were locking. "I would certainly advise anyone not to do it." Some would be tempted by the "alluring" cash prizes, Lonergan said. Rugby and league players were conditioned for the physicality of their sport and were taught how to tackle properly. Some of the Run it Straight participants were "out of shape" and their skill level was "through the floor". Several were also tackling too high, raising the injury risk, Lonergan said. While doctors were present for the organised events, "they're not at the top of the cliff, they're down at the bottom cleaning up the mess because the injuries have already happened when guys are getting knocked out". Lonergan, who has been concussed three or four times and been knocked out once during his playing career, said participants were taking "big hits" and sometimes being knocked out multiple times. "So the level of injury is through the roof. ... Sometimes you've got to protect people from themselves." It was nothing like Bulrush that was popular a few decades ago because that was about avoiding physical contact, he said. While there has been a call for prominent players to make their opposition known, Lonergan believed the responsibility lay with councils and the government. However, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon ruled out any government action on Morning Report today. He said influencers and adults promoting the trend needed to stop and rethink their actions. Luxon said Satterthwaite's death was "an absolute tragedy". However, it would not be practical for the government to get involved in introducing legislation to curb the activity. "That's not practical but the point is common sense would say why would you participate?"
Metro
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Metro
Teenager dies after 'dangerous' social media rugby trend
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A 19-year-old man has died after taking part in a dangerous TikTok trend. Ryan Satterthwaite died on Monday after taking part in the game with friends on Sunday. His family was forced to turn off his life support after he suffered serious head injuries. Ryan, from Palmerston North in the central North Island in New Zealand, was playing a rugby-style tackling game called Run It Straight which has been described as 'the world's fiercest new combat sport'. During the match, two players run at each other over a 65ft 'battlefield' without any protective equipment, as one tries to take a rugby ball the other is holding. Ryan's friends rushed him to hospital after he 'started going downhill' following the match – but he never regained consciousness. The game has been played casually in Australia and New Zealand for years, but it's recently reached new audiences thanks to social media. 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 Ryan's death highlighted the 'inherent safety concerns with such an activity' – and the trend has been criticised by neuroscientists and brain injury specialists. Neuroscientist Dr Helen Murray told the NZ Herald: 'There is clearly a high risk of head injury in this event. There's no attempt to reduce head acceleration, so I do not support it.' Professor Patria Hume, an expert in sports science and injury prevention, said the sport is a 'step backwards' and described it as a 'reckless and dangerous spectacle'. 'The science is clear – repeated head impacts increase risk of long-term brain damage,' she added. And Headway, a charity dedicated to improving understanding of brain injuries, told ITV News: 'Trends like this are dangerous because they encourage copycat behaviour often among young people who may not fully understand the serious risks involved. '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.' A Run It Straight championship was recently hosted in the New Zealand capital of Auckland, and more than 1,000 people turned up to watch. More Trending Eight men competed for the NZ$20,000 (£8,800) prize money, but some were injured during their matches, with one man falling to the ground and appearing to have a seizure after colliding with his opponent. The winners were set to attend a final competition next month at Auckland's Trust Arena for a grand prize of NZ$250,000 (£110,000) – but the stadium has now pulled out of hosting the event due to 'overwhelming concern' caused by the 'high-risk nature' of the event. Run It Straight's founder, Christian Lesa, said the game should only be played under strict conditions, and support for the game is still strong. Event spokesperson Billy Coffey aid organised competitions involve waivers, pre- and post-medicals, and on-site ambulances. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Beatboxing Nun shocks viewers with her incredible hip-hop skills MORE: Deaf woman, 25, who took her own life was 'failed' by mental health services MORE: X goes down leaving thousands of users unable to load posts for second time this week
ITV News
18 hours ago
- Sport
- ITV News
'Not worth the risk': what is 'Run It Straight', the social media game linked to death of teenager?
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."
RNZ News
a day ago
- General
- RNZ News
Former All Black warning people off RUNIT game
A Former All Black is warning people off the Run It Straight game, where competitors smash into each other at full speed, after a teenager died playing a version of the social media driven trend at the weekend. 19 year old Ryan Satterthwaite died in Palmerston North hosptial after suffering a catastrophic head injury. Meanwhile at an official Run-It Championship League in Auckland at the weekend two competitors were knocked unconcious. Former All Black Saveatama Eroni Clarke, the Pasifika Engagement Manager for NZ Rugby spoke to Lisa Owen.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
British youths warned not to take part in trend after Kiwi teenager is killed in controversial game - but UK stars 'support it'
British teenagers have been warned not to take part in a dangerous trend that has led to the tragic death of a New Zealand teenager. The rugby-style tackling game has become popular online in recent months but with deadly consequences. In the game, two players charge head first towards each other over a 20-metre 'battlefield' without any protective equipment or kit. It has become a social media sensation, with organisers touting it as 'the world's fiercest new combat sport'. The aim of the game involves one player trying to tackle and take a rugby ball that their opponent is holding. The rules of the controversial game state: 'Victory belongs tot he one who dominates the collision', but for some players, it has resulted in their premature death. On Monday night a 19-year-old Kiwi man died after suffering a serious head injury in a game inspired by the controversial 'Run It Straight' trend. Ryan Satterthwaite from northern New Zealand passed away on after taking part in the full-contact collision game on Sunday afternoon. Ryan Satterthwaite, 19, (pictured) from New Zealand died after suffering a serious head injury in a game inspired by the controversial 'Run It Straight' trend Manawatū Police Inspector Ross Grantham confirmed the young man was playing an impromptu tackle game with friends when the injury occurred. He was taken to hospital by his friends, but could not be saved. The game has been championed by former England rugby player George Burgess, 33 who won £9,500 after competing in a tournament in Australia, according to The Mirror. Burgess who played his last game in the NRL for St George Illawarra three years ago and won 15 caps for England between 2013 and 2018, squared off against giant former winger, Nadolo, who stands at a towering 195cm and weighs approximately 136kg. Nadolo, who was born in Fiji, was capped 30 times for his home country, scoring a whopping 206 points and was renowned for his physicality. Neuroscientist Dr Helen Murray has called the game unacceptably risky. 'There is clearly a high risk of head injury in this event. There's no attempt to reduce head acceleration, so I do not support it,' she told the NZ Herald. Professor Patria Hume, an expert in sports science and injury prevention, said the sport is 'a step backwards'. 'This is a reckless and dangerous spectacle,' she said. 'The science is clear – repeated head impacts increase risk of long-term brain damage.' Run It Straight's founder, Christian Lesa, said community support remains strong despite backlash and stated the game should only be played under strict conditions. Sports star Burgess defended the concept, calling it a safe simulation of past combat. Event spokesperson Billy Coffey said organised competitions involve waivers, pre- and post-medicals, and on-site ambulances. He claimed it gives former athletes a chance to 'get off the couch' and reconnect with their competitive spirit.
