Back to news
New Zealand teenager dies imitating collision ‘sport’ trending on social media
@Source: irishexaminer.com
Area police commander Inspector Ross Grantham described Mr Satterthwaite’s death as “a huge tragedy” and urged others to “consider the significant safety and injury risks” of the game, which is known as RUNIT or RUNIT Straight.
“A young man lost his life as a result of participating in what I understand to be a social media frenzy,” Mr Grantham said.
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
“While this is not a criminal matter, police will continue to undertake inquiries on behalf of the coroner.”
Mr Grantham said: “The tackle game played by the group of friends was based on a social media-driven trend where participants compete in full-contact collisions without protective gear”.
“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,” he added.
RUNIT is based loosely on the contact elements of rugby union, rugby league or the NFL and involves two competitors, a runner and a tackler, running at each other and colliding on a 20-metre by four-metre (65ft by 13ft) area known as a battlefield.
Organisers have promoted the event as “the world’s fiercest new collision sport”.
The game has grown in social media popularity through the Australian RUNIT Championship League, which offers cash prizes to competitors.
This is tragic news and our hearts go out to the family and friends of Ryan. Any contact sport like boxing, martial arts or combat-style activities should only be held in highly controlled environments which include professional medical supervision and support
Two trial events in Auckland in recent weeks saw eight men compete for 20,000 New Zealand dollars (£8,800) in front of more than 1,000 spectators. Winners were expected to go into a championship event next month with prize money of up to 250,000 New Zealand dollars (£110,000).
Two other events in Auckland were cancelled when organisers were unable to obtain permits.
The RUNIT Championship League released a statement to the New Zealand news website Stuff on Tuesday, saying it “does not encourage any copying of the sport as it should only be done under the strict conditions”.
“This is tragic news, and our hearts go out to the family and friends of Ryan. Any contact sport like boxing, martial arts or combat-style activities should only be held in highly controlled environments which include professional medical supervision and support,” it read.
RUNIT has been strongly condemned by experts in head injuries who say competitors run a high risk of a serious brain injury.
Related News
30 Jul, 2025
The Pitt season 2 adds new cast member f . . .
19 Apr, 2025
US may accept Russian control of Crimea . . .
07 Jul, 2025
Former Scots College private school rugb . . .
20 Mar, 2025
Lions will face indigenous and Pacific t . . .
14 Jul, 2025
List of FIFA Club World Cup Champions Af . . .
05 Mar, 2025
NBA star Jayson Tatum seemingly confirms . . .
03 Aug, 2025
Andy Farrell backed to lead 2029 New Zea . . .
15 Mar, 2025
Liverpool vs Newcastle live stream: how . . .