Footage from the event shows Proctor running towards a man, reportedly social media influencer Jordan Simi, colliding, and falling to the ground. Photo: Instagram / Runit League
An expert in sports injury prevention says it appears former rugby league player Kevin Proctor suffered a serious head injury after participating in a Run It event in Dubai, and it could take months or years for him to fully recover.
The Former NRL and Kiwis forward took a heavy hit in the RUNIT 02 event in Dubai over the weekend.
A video of the event shows Proctor running towards social media influencer Jordan Simi, who carries a ball.
The two collide sending Proctor into the air. He then falls to his side on the ground where he doesn't immediately move.
Staff rush towards him and help him into a sitting position as his legs kick out and twitch.
In an Instagram post this evening, Proctor said he was "all good" and he was now heading home.
"We all know what we sign up for getting in there. It's a contact sport and unfortunately I put my head in the wrong place and came out second best. Ya win some ya lose some, but no hard feelings."
He said he was still grateful to be part of the event.
'It could be a very long-term recovery journey'
Professor of Human Performance at AUT Patria Hume said she had seen the video, which showed Proctor was immediately concussed after his head contacted Simi's shoulder.
"He was knocked out or unconscious, before he actually hit the ground.
"So that brain damage then caused the seizure of his arms of legs, and we call this a posturing sign, that's how we can tell - just from observing from afar - that he has had a severe concussion."
Hume said researched showed that 44 percent of New Zealanders who have a mild traumatic brain injury were still suffering from symptoms of their concussion months or years later.
"In Kevin's case, it could be a very long-term recovery journey."
She also questioned how many practice blows Proctor had experienced - which hadn't resulted in being unconscious, but which increased the risk of dementia.
"The question is how many practice contacts did he have, how many of those sub-concussive blows did he have, and now he's had a very severe concussion - what are the effects going to be on his brain?
"I wish him all the best in his recovery and I hope he never participates in this type of event again."
Proctor, a former Kiwis rugby league international, played 22 games for New Zealand between 2012-2019.
The 36-year-old had a 14-year career in the NRL playing for Melbourne Storm from 2008-2016 and was a member of the 2012 premiership winning side.
He played for Gold Coast Titans from 2017-2022 but his contract was terminated after he posted a video of himself on social media vaping during the halftime break.
He then headed to England to Super League side Wakefield Trinity before moving to France to play for semi-professional side AS Carcassone last year.
The risks of Run It events were highlighted by the death of Ryan Satterthwaite, 19, in Palmerston North in May after he was critically injured playing a tackle game with friends.
At an Auckland event in May two men retired due to knocks to the head, one slumping to the ground and appearing to have a seizure.
Coroner Bruce Hesketh also took aim at the events which he said had "all the hallmarks of perilous activity that makes no attempt to mitigate head injury".
Hume said Run it events should be banned worldwide, and experts were already calling for this.
She said players running towards each other with high body mass and speed had an impact about five times greater than the most intense rugby tackles usually occurring on the field.
"The impact forces are like jumping off the roof of your house and landing on your face and front, and so no one would do that voluntarily so people need to understand that these forces are really high."
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