New Zealand Teen Dies After Participating in Social Media-Inspired Collision Game

 Palmerston North, New Zealand – May 27: A 19-year-old New Zealand teenager has died after sustaining a critical head injury while participating in a high-impact tackling game believed to be inspired by a viral online trend. Authorities confirmed the young man passed away in hospital late Monday evening, a day after the incident occurred in the North Island city of Palmerston North.

Police say the game, described as a full-contact tackling activity without protective gear, has been linked to the so-called “Run It Straight” challenge—a social media phenomenon gaining traction on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Videos of participants sprinting into one another at full speed have attracted tens of millions of views in recent weeks.

“This young man’s death is an absolute tragedy, and my thoughts are with his family and friends,” said Inspector Ross Grantham of the New Zealand Police. “While this was an impromptu game among friends and not a sanctioned event, it highlights the serious risks involved in such unregulated activities.”

The incident comes just days after a championship event for the Run It Straight competition was held in Auckland. According to local media, the event saw two participants withdraw due to head injuries, including one man who appeared to suffer a seizure.

The event organiser, known as RUNIT, describes the sport on its website as “the world’s fiercest new collision sport,” marketing it as a test of “strength and grit.” More than 1,000 spectators attended the Auckland event, where eight men competed for a $20,000 prize. Winners from the tournament are slated to move on to a grand finale next month with a $250,000 prize pool.

In a statement issued to The Guardian, RUNIT expressed condolences over the teenager’s death and reiterated that their events are conducted under controlled conditions.

“Any contact sport like boxing, martial arts, or combat-style competitions should only take place in highly regulated environments with professional medical supervision,” the statement read. “We do not encourage or condone any unsanctioned imitation of the sport.”

The organisation added that it follows strict safety protocols, including participant screening, medical assessments before and after matches, and on-site medical personnel.

Health and sport experts, however, have raised alarms about the risks associated with such unregulated trends. Professor Melanie Bussey, from the University of Otago’s School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, warned that this type of full-speed collision can significantly increase the risk of serious brain trauma.

“Sport governing bodies globally are investing heavily in improving player safety and reducing avoidable injuries,” said Professor Bussey. “The rise of a high-risk sport like this is not only counterproductive—it’s deeply concerning.”

Professor Patria Hume, a specialist in Human Performance at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), described the young man’s death as entirely avoidable.

“This death was preventable,” she said. “We urgently need to dissuade participation in any activity where the goal is to deliberately cause physical harm. The consequences are too severe.”

As investigations continue, New Zealand authorities have urged the public to exercise caution and avoid engaging in unregulated and potentially dangerous trends popularized on social media platforms.