To be attributed to Inspector Ross Grantham, Manawat¨± Area Commander:
A 19-year-old man has died after being critically injured playing a tackle game with friends in Palmerston North on Sunday afternoon.
The man suffered a serious head injury when tackled, and was taken to hospital by his friends. Tragically, he passed away in hospital on Monday night.
This young man¡¯s death is an absolute tragedy and my thoughts are with his family and friends.
The tackle game played by the group of friends was based on a social media-driven trend, where participants compete in full-contact collisions without protective gear.
While this was an impromptu game among friends, not a planned event, this tragic outcome does highlight the inherent safety concerns with such an activity.
We would urge anyone thinking about taking part in a game or event like this to consider the significant safety and injury risks.???
While this is not a criminal matter, Police will continue to undertake enquiries on behalf of the Coroner.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre.?