A viral new trend that has been doing the rounds in the sporting world has seen the death of a 19-year old New Zealander.
Ryan Satterthwaite, a young-man from New Zealand was admitted to hospital in Palmerston North on Monday after a game of “run it straight” resulted in a fatal head knock. The game in question, run it straight, involves two players one with a ball and one without as they try to knock each other down in a jousting-esque style.
@islandcitymedia Run it straight challenge😳 #polynesian #rugby #football ♬ original sound – Island City Media
Police Spokesperson Ross Grantham said in a statement:
“We would urge anyone thinking about taking part in a game or event like this to consider the significant safety and injury risks,… While this was an impromptu game among friends, not a planned event, this tragic outcome does highlight the inherent safety concerns with such an activity.“
Run it straight is a current trend in the sporting side of TikTok, but has been a game often played in New Zealand and Australia for sometime now. But the sport has since seen internet attention and has grown a larger following across the world as many videos online have surfaced of people playing the game.
The game has grown so large that several places, have started holding competitions of the game. The Runit Championship League as its called started here in Australia earlier in March and even found its way to Auckland. The contest had an attendance of over a thousand people as people played to win the $13,000 prize, with the events organiser planning to host larger events with bigger prizes in the future.
“It’s a Kiwi national backyard sport. The boys are currently playing as we speak,” Kimami Ngaluafe – Event Organiser, in an interview with the BBC
