In the early hours of a somber Friday morning, the dangers of a perilous activity known as subway surfing were tragically underscored when two young girls were discovered dead atop a Brooklyn subway train. Zemfira Mukhtarov, 12, and Ebba Morina, 13, were found unresponsive on the last car of a J train at approximately 3:10 a.m., just after the train had traversed the Williamsburg Bridge and pulled into Marcy Avenue station. The incident has sent shockwaves across New York City, drawing attention to the deadly consequences of a growing trend among teenagers.
Subway surfing, an activity where individuals audaciously ride atop moving train cars, carries with it an extreme risk of injury or death. The teens' tragic fate was the latest in a series of deaths linked to this viral stunt. Harrowing footage that emerged online showed Mukhtarov performing the stunt days before her death, with one video depicting her walking on a narrow beam as a train sped below and another showing her lying on the tracks filming a train's undercarriage. Morina's online presence was similarly fraught with danger, featuring videos of her scaling the Brooklyn Bridge and venturing into deserted subway stations.
The girls were reportedly part of a group of about 15 teenagers engaging in this risky behavior. Zemfira's mother, Nataliya Rudenko, recounted the heart-wrenching moment she recognized her daughter's belongings on television, as Zemfira had ostensibly sneaked out to meet Morina, whom she had met online, for an ill-fated subway surfing adventure. A GoFundMe page set up by Zemfira's family poignantly noted that she would have turned 13 just two weeks later. Ebba Morina, remembered through a public tribute wall, was lauded for her kindness and the joy she brought to others during her short life.
The social media platforms that host such content are now in the crosshairs of grieving families and concerned officials. Justin Brannan, a New York City Council member, pointed to the allure of social media in promoting this activity as a contributing factor. The NYPD's data indicates that over 415 people had been arrested for subway surfing from January 2023 through April 2025, with the number of fatalities in 2025 alone reaching five.
Past incidents underscore the gravity of the situation. In January 2024, 14-year-old Alam Reyes died after falling from a train, and in February 2023, Zackery Nazario's death led his mother to file a lawsuit against social media companies and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The MTA has since amplified its safety campaign with "ride inside, stay alive" announcements, and the NYPD has launched a drone surveillance program to prevent such tragedies.
Despite historical roots dating back to the 1980s and even a recorded death in 1938, subway surfing persists as a dangerous challenge among youth, exacerbated by the quest for viral fame. The recent deaths of Mukhtarov and Morina serve as a grim reminder of the severe risks associated with the trend, and the need for ongoing vigilance and education to deter others from following in their tracks.
