A 19-year-old man has d!ed after suffering a serious head injury in a social media game inspired by the controversial ‘Run It Straight’ trend.
Ryan Satterthwaite from Palmerston North in New Zealand passed away on Monday night after taking part in the full-contact collision game on Sunday afternoon, according to Mail Online.
Manawatū Police Inspector Ross Grantham confirmed the young man was playing an impromptu tackle game with friends when the injury occurred.
He was rushed to hospital by his mates, but could not be saved.
‘This was an impromptu game among friends, not a planned event,’ Grantham told the NZ Herald.
‘While this is not a criminal matter, police will continue to make inquiries on behalf of the Coroner.’
The collision game, based on the rising ‘Run It Straight’ phenomenon, involves two people charging at each other with no protective gear.
Teenager is k!lled taking part in social media
It has become a social media sensation, with organisers touting it as ‘the world’s fiercest new combat sport’.
One defender and one runner meet at high speed on a narrow 20-metre field.
‘Victory belongs to the one who dominates the collision,’ the sport’s website claims.
Despite the hype, the death has sparked renewed calls for the sport to be banned.
Health professionals say the event ignores decades of head injury prevention research.
Neuroscientist Dr Helen Murray called it an unacceptable risk.
‘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.’
Australian neurologist Dr Alan Pearce echoed that sentiment.
‘It’s insanity. You’re removing the skill and strategy and replacing it with blunt force,’ he said.
Run It Straight-style events have recently been staged in Auckland and Melbourne, drawing significant crowds and online attention.
At one recent Auckland event, three of eight competitors left injured, including two with concussion symptoms.
Clips of brutal hits and knockouts have gone viral, fuelling online popularity.
