Warning viruses about the trend of “running” sports after 19-year-old death from head injury
Wellington, New Zealand – A 19-year-old New Zealand man participated in a new tackle game that was popular on social media, with competitors running to each other and colliding without any protective equipment. Police confirmed Ryan Satterthwaite suffered a head injury while playing a backyard game with friends in the North Island city of Palmerston North on Sunday. He died Monday due to injury.
Local police commander Ross Grantham called Satterthwaite's death a “huge tragedy” and urged others to “consider the major safety and risk of injury of the game” known as Runit or Runit Straight.
“A young man died from participating in the social media madness I understand,” Grantham said. “While this is not a criminal matter, the police will continue to conduct an investigation on behalf of the coroner.”
“The tackle game played by a group of friends is based on a social media-driven trend where participants compete to collide in full swing without protective gear,” Grantham said.
“Although it’s an impromptu game between friends, not a planned event, this tragic result does highlight the inherent security issues of this kind of activity.”
Runit is loosely based on contact elements of the Rugby League, Rugby League or NFL and involves two competitors, a runner and a tackler, running to each other and colliding in a 65-foot-by-13-foot zone, known as the battlefield.
The game grows on social media through the Arutherian Runit Championship League, which offers cash rewards to competitors. Organizers promoted the event as “the world’s most intense new collision movement.”
Eight men competed for $20,000 in New Zealand dollars ($12,000) in front of more than 1,000 viewers in two trials in Auckland in recent weeks. Winners are expected to hold a championship match next month, with a prize of up to 250,000 NZ dollars ($150,000).
Two other events in Auckland were cancelled when organizers were unable to obtain permission.
The Asian Run Champions League issued a statement to the New Zealand News website on Tuesday saying “any reproduction of the sport is not encouraged as it can only be done under strict conditions.”
“This is tragic news and our hearts are posted to Ryan's family and friends. Any contact sports, such as boxing, martial arts or combat style activities, should be held in a highly controlled environment, including professional medical supervision and support.”
Runit has been strongly condemned by experts in head injuries, who say competitors are at high risk of severe brain damage.
This is definitely not the first one Social media-driven trends that raise security warnings After the tragedy. Medical experts are forced to warn people, especially young people, from Inhalation solvent arrive Abuse of over-the-counter medications even norting condoms.
