Internet Challenge Claims Another Life: New Zealand Teen's Tragic Demise - Teenager in New Zealand Perishes Due to Online Dare Game
In the wake of a tragic event in New Zealand, the country's police are urging caution regarding a viral dare known as the "Run it straight" challenge. Popular among both New Zealanders and Australians, this high-stakes competition involves sprinting head-to-head with participants, sometimes under specific weight or condition requirements.
Ross Grantham from the New Zealand Police emphasized the significant safety and injury risks involved in such games or events. With large crowds gathered in support, the dare can lead to collisions and falls that cause immediate injuries and, potentially, long-term neurological issues.
The dare takes inspiration from team sports such as Rugby, which is widely popular in both countries. The competition often offers substantial prize money and features former Rugby professionals, increasing hype and tempting participants. Nevertheless, experts caution that the challenge, despite initial excitement, is essentially a combative sport, with dangerous concussions being a foreseeable risk.
The dangers associated with the "Run it straight" challenge are multi-faceted. Direct impacts during head-on collisions or falls can result in immediate injuries like broken bones, abrasions, or trauma. Furthermore, sudden stops or violent contact can cause concussions or other forms of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Repeated head trauma, especially in activities that permit multiple attempts, can have long-lasting neurological consequences. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease associated with mood disorders, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes, is a concern for individuals experiencing repeated head trauma. Memory loss, depression, and early-onset dementia are also potential risks associated with ongoing head impacts.
Such concerns are not limited to the "Run it Straight" challenge but echo the growing evidence of long-term neurological risks in traditional sports like Rugby and American Football, where frequent head impacts have been linked to similar degenerative brain diseases.
This viral dare's popularity has worried experts, who fear it may normalize risky behavior, especially among young people. Already, there have been tragic outcomes linked to similar high-risk dares, including a reported death associated with the "run it straight" challenge in Australia. These incidents underscore the potentially fatal nature of such activities.
In conclusion, the "run it straight" challenge poses numerous direct risks of physical injury and potential long-term brain diseases due to repeated impacts. With fatalities and social implications to consider, it is essential to approach such activities with caution and awareness.
The New Zealand Police are urging against participating in the viral "Run it Straight" challenge, a dangerous competition that pits individuals against each other, often involving head-to-head sprints and potentially life-threatening injuries, especially concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Worryingly, this dare, which mirrors the intensity of sports like Rugby, has already claimed lives, such as the reported death in Australia.
