Another “run it straight” event took place in a backyard last night, taking a more scaled-down approach to the controversial craze.
After having its event at Barfoot & Thompson Stadium in Kohimarama cancelled last month, Up the Guts NZ decided to go ahead in a nondescript backyard, believed to be in Auckland, and livestream it over social media.
The craze involves two people running at and crashing into each other at speed.
Last week, 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite died after he received a serious head injury while playing a game based on the dangerous trend with friends in Palmerston North.
Similar events have received backlash, with health officials and brain injury advocates concerned about the dangers of the activity.
With public venues cancelling the events, it appears to have moved onto private property.
Last night’s event took place under a gazebo at an address believed to be in Auckland.
While only a small crowd of people gathered to watch, more than 13,000 tuned in over social media.
Participants squared off from each side of the property, in the hope of winning a $5000 cash prize.
In the livestream, one of the announcers could be heard saying he was looking for some “massive hits tonight”. A $500 cash prize was awarded to the participant with the biggest hit.
In a difference to other events, all participants wore headgear and mouthguards. They also ran at each other from a much closer distance.
Up the Guts NZ and its organiser, Kimami Ngaluafe, both claimed it was being held to “raise awareness for mental health and suicide in our neighbourhoods”.
According to NZ Herald, Ngaluafe said Up the Guts had implemented greater safety measures.
“For example, we have half the running distance to minimise collision impact. Mouthguards, headgear and shoulder protection are compulsory here. We have on-field spotters, first-aiders and medics on-site. Participant safety is our No. 1 priority,” he said.
“But not only that, our biggest goal is to raise awareness for mental health and suicide. Mental Health New Zealand stats show the Māori and Pasifika, especially our men, have the highest rates of suicide in this country, particularly our young males aged 15 to 24 years old.”
1News has approached Ngaluafe for comment on last night’s event.
Mouthguards and headgear won’t prevent brain injury, expert says
Brain Injury NZ Vice-President and AUT associate professor with the National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, Kelly Jones, said the footage from last night’s event was “pretty hard to watch”.
She said that things like mouthguards and headgear wouldn’t limit the risk of a brain injury to those participating in the activity.
“The brain is a soft, jellylike substance surrounded by fluid within a hard casing, being our skull.
“If the head is travelling along at speed and comes to a sudden stop, the brain can keep travelling and slam into the skull. That’s where we see brain injuries ranging from concussion through to more moderate and severe traumatic brain injuries.
“Mouthguards are designed to protect mouths and teeth – they do that very well. But mouth guards and headgear do not protect against brain injuries. They’re not going to stop the brain moving inside the scalp and potentially being bruised.”
She criticised the call for “massive hits”.
“Mouthguards and headgear with ‘massive hits’ are not going to prevent brain injury.”
Stacey Mowbray of Headway said Ryan Satterthwaite’s death was an “absolute tragedy” but wasn’t surprised it happened. (Source: 1News)
Jones said that wearing mouthguards and headgear could even have a “reverse effect”.
“The wearer thinks, oh, I can really go all out, give it my all because I’m protected.”
She said there was “no way” to reduce the risk of brain injury in these activities,
“We’ve got two people running straight towards each other, and people are looking for massive hits. The risk of brain injury cannot be eliminated.”
Jones also said it was “interesting” to see the organisers used the event to promote mental health awareness.
“Having a concussion, which is a mild form of traumatic brain injury, through to more severe injury, does heighten the risk of problems with mood, anxiety, depression and risk of suicide.
“They’re likely complex relationships, but we know that they exist, so it’s interesting to hear that the spin on that has been to promote means health.
“I don’t see how this activity will achieve that.”
Teen’s death sparked warnings, condemnation
Ryan Satterthwaite was at a 21st party when he and his friends decided to have some “harmless fun” and have a go at their own imitation of a “run it game”. He suffered a serious head injury while being tackled and was taken to the hospital by his friends. He died on the evening of 26 May.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called Satterthwaite’s death an “absolute tragedy”.
“It’s incredibly tragic for the young person involved, for their family, for their friends. It’s a good reminder for people to take personal responsibility, for individual responsibility, to think about the activity,” he told Newstalk ZB.
“But I’d also say to adults and sports influencers and celebrity influencers, or whatever it is driving this sort of craze, they should be thinking and reflecting very strongly right now.”
Pete Satterthwaite, Ryan’s uncle, called the activity “utter stupidity”.
“Don’t do it, it’s utter stupidity. It seems like a bit of harmless fun, and as a teenager, I probably would have been doing the same thing with my friends, but no one gives any thought to the consequences,” he said.
Ryan Satterthwaite, 19, suffered a serious head injury while playing a game based on the controversial craze. (Source: 1News)
“They can have all of the medical supervision they like. They can have all the tackling practice that they like, but nothing is going to prevent serious injuries from happening.”
He called on athletes and others who were influential in the space to speak out against participating in the activity.
“I am hoping that out of this, we’ll get some All Blacks, some rugby league players to stand up and express what a dumb idea that this particular game is,” he said.
NZ Rugby urged people not to participate in similar events.
“Those wanting to play contact sports should register for a school or club team and learn in a controlled and safe environment how to tackle safely and the art of evasion.”
