Particle.news
Download on the App Store
23 ARTICLES
·
yesterday

19-Year-Old Dies After Head Injury in Viral ‘Run-It-Straight’ Tackle Game

Medical specialists warn of significant brain trauma risks, with organisers saying only sanctioned RUNIT events follow safety protocols.

Image
Image
In the game RUNIT, inspired by Rugby, competitors run towards each other to collide without protective gear.
Image

Overview

  • On May 25, 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite suffered a severe head injury playing an informal RUNIT tackle game with friends in Palmerston North and died two days later.
  • The “Run-It-Straight” challenge involves a runner and a tackler charging full speed at each other across a 20 m by 4 m field without protective gear.
  • Social media videos have fueled organised RUNIT events in New Zealand and Australia offering cash prizes and attracting some former professional rugby players.
  • Sports injury and neuroscience experts have condemned the unprotected collisions as posing high risks of concussions and long-term neurological damage.
  • Police have classified the incident as non-criminal but continue coroner-led inquiries, and the official RUNIT Championship League has urged participants to stick to its medically supervised events.