Teenager, 19, dies imitating collision 'sport' trending on social media

Police urged people to ‘consider the significant safety and injury risks’ of the game which is known as RUNIT or RUNIT Straight Picture: Alamy/PA

A 19-year-old New Zealander has died after imitating with friends a new tackling game trending on social media in which competitors run at each other and collide while wearing no protective equipment.

Ryan Satterthwaite suffered a head injury on Sunday while playing a backyard game with friends in the North Island city of Palmerston North, police said. He died on Monday as a result of his injuries.