27 May 2025

Teen dies after suffering injuries after playing 'tackle game'

From Checkpoint, 5:25 pm on 27 May 2025

A teenager is dead after being critically injured while playing a version of a full contact collision game being promoted on social media. 19 year old Ryan Satterthwaite suffered a serious head injury after playing the tackle game with friends in Palmerston North on Sunday afternoon. He was taken to hospital by friends but he died there on Monday. Police say the tackle game played by the group was based on a social media-driven trend, where participants compete in full-contact collisions without protective gear. Manawatu Area Commander, Inspector Ross Grantham spoke to Lisa Owen.