Teen Dies in New Zealand Collision Sport, Experts Call for Ban

A 19-year-old New Zealand man, Ryan Satterthwaite, died from a serious head injury sustained during an impromptu full-contact tackle game inspired by the controversial 'Run It Straight' trend. The game, which involves two participants charging at each other at high speed without protective gear, has gained social media popularity as a brutal new combat sport. Health experts, including Professor Patria Hume, have condemned the sport as reckless and dangerous, highlighting that it ignores decades of head injury prevention research and increases the risk of long-term brain damage. Despite its growing popularity and recent events held in Auckland and Melbourne, the sport has sparked renewed calls for a ban due to the high risk of injury, with reports of multiple competitors suffering concussions at recent events. Police confirmed the incident was not criminal, but investigations continue on behalf of the Coroner. The incident has intensified the debate over the safety and ethics of such collision sports.