Intravenous catheter apparatus, comprising: a needle having a needle shaft, a needle tip at the distal end of the needle shaft and a needle hub mounted to the proximal end of the needle shaft, an intravenous catheter tube mounted to a catheter hub and a needle guard movable on the needle shaft, wherein the needle guard comprises: a base portion having a needle passage extending in an axial direction from a proximal side of the base portion through the base portion to a distal side of the base portion, first and second arms (46, 48) extending substantially in the axial direction from the distal side of the base portion and a distal wall which is transversely arranged at a distal region of the first arm, wherein a stopping element for stopping movement of the needle shaft relative to the needle guard is received in a recess provided in the needle guard, characterized in that the stopping element is arranged loosely on the needle between the two arms (46, 48) of the needle guard and floating in the recess of the needle guard on the needle shaft, wherein the recess is limited on its distal end by a shoulder, and wherein the base portion and the shoulder form a collar that limits floating of the stopping element. a needle having a needle shaft, a needle tip at the distal end of the needle shaft and a needle hub mounted to the proximal end of the needle shaft, an intravenous catheter tube mounted to a catheter hub and a needle guard movable on the needle shaft, wherein the needle guard comprises: a base portion having a needle passage extending in an axial direction from a proximal side of the base portion through the base portion to a distal side of the base portion, first and second arms (46, 48) extending substantially in the axial direction from the distal side of the base portion and a distal wall which is transversely arranged at a distal region of the first arm, wherein a stopping element for stopping movement of the needle shaft relative to the needle guard is received in a recess provided in the needle guard, characterized in that the stopping element is arranged loosely on the needle between the two arms (46, 48) of the needle guard and floating in the recess of the needle guard on the needle shaft, wherein the recess is limited on its distal end by a shoulder, and wherein the base portion and the shoulder form a collar that limits floating of the stopping element. a base portion having a needle passage extending in an axial direction from a proximal side of the base portion through the base portion to a distal side of the base portion, first and second arms (46, 48) extending substantially in the axial direction from the distal side of the base portion and a distal wall which is transversely arranged at a distal region of the first arm, wherein a stopping element for stopping movement of the needle shaft relative to the needle guard is received in a recess provided in the needle guard, characterized in that the stopping element is arranged loosely on the needle between the two arms (46, 48) of the needle guard and floating in the recess of the needle guard on the needle shaft, wherein the recess is limited on its distal end by a shoulder, and wherein the base portion and the shoulder form a collar that limits floating of the stopping element.