The family of a 19-year-old man who died after taking part in a viral trend known as 'Run It Straight' have spoken out to pay tribute to the beloved teen.
Ryan Satterthwaite, from the city of Palmerston North on New Zealand's North Island, lost his life on Monday (May 26) after taking part in a game of 'Run It Straight' with friends one day earlier.
Ryan suffered a 'serious head injury' during the challenge, and was taken to hospital on Sunday (May 25) to undergo emergency surgery.
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Sadly the teen could not be saved, and he is now being remembered by his family as a 'top kid' who would 'do anything for anybody'.
Ryan's family have also explained what happened to him after taking part in the trend, which police have issued a warning about.
What is the 'Run It Straight' trend?
Seemingly inspired by collisions which take place during rugby games, the challenge involves two people charging at each other head-on, often without protective headgear.
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One of the players holds a ball, while the other is the 'tackler', though the goal for both players is to knock the other down.
The challenge has been played casually in Australia and New Zealand for some time, BBC News reports, but more recently it has gained attention on social media, sparking a viral trend.
Some participants have even gone as far as to make 'tournaments' out of Run It Straight challenges, in spite of the risks associated with it.
Why is the 'Run It Straight' trend dangerous?
Experts have issued warnings about the dangers that can come with forceful contact such as that in the trend, with Professor Patria Hume, an expert in sports science and injury prevention, sharing her concerns in a statement to the MailOnline.
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She said: “This is a reckless and dangerous spectacle. The science is clear - repeated head impacts increase risk of long-term brain damage.”
Police spokesperson Ross Grantham added: “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.”
What have Ryan's family said?
In the wake of Ryan's death, his uncle Peter Satterthwaite told the New Zealand Herald the teen had enjoyed playing rugby in his free time.
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“[He was] pleasant and polite, one of those kids that would open the door for you, say please and thank you - and it’s hard to come by on some of the teenagers these days,” Satterthwaite said of his nephew.
The uncle explained that Ryan had got together with his friends on Sunday after celebrating a friend’s 21st birthday the night before.
“They just carried on celebrating, knew about the game, thought it’d be good fun to play,” Satterthwaite added. “It was just a freak accident and he hit his head.”
After the incident, Satterthwaite said Ryan initially was 'conscious' and 'talking to his friends', then he started 'going downhill'.
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Dozens of Ryan's friends and colleagues went to the hospital to see him following the incident, taking the chance to say goodbye before his life support was turned off.
“I really feel for all the boys there and what they’re going through, they shouldn’t have to go through that," Satterthwaite said. “It was nobody’s fault, just a little bit of fun that’s turned tragic.”
Topics: Health, Life, New Zealand
Emily Brown