Tragedy on the Tracks: 12‑Year‑Old Zemfira Mukhtarov Dies in Apparent Subway Surfing Incident

Tragedy on the Tracks: 12‑Year‑Old Zemfira Mukhtarov Dies in Apparent Subway Surfing Incident

In the early hours of Saturday, October 4, 2025, a senseless tragedy unfolded on New York City’s subway system: 12‑year‑old Zemfira Mukhtarov was found unresponsive atop a Brooklyn‑bound train, her life lost in what police believe was a subway surfing stunt gone fatally wrong.

She was not alone. Also discovered on the roof of the same train was 13‑year‑old Ebba Morina of Manhattan, and authorities say both girls died at the scene.

The incident took place near the Marcy Avenue – Broadway station in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, at about 3:10 a.m.

The Night It Happened: Sneaking Out, Online Connection, and a Fatal Adventure

Meeting Online and Stealth Departure

According to the accounts emerging from her family, Zemfira had recently “met” the 13‑year‑old girl on social media, and the two allegedly arranged to go out that night.

Zemfira’s mother, Nataliya Rudenko, says she came to realize something had gone wrong while watching televised news coverage: she saw Zemfira’s skateboard and bag in the footage and recognized them instantly.

At home in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, the family believed the girls had already snuck out while others in the household slept.

Zemfira’s younger sister, Maryam (11 years old), who was asleep that night, is now left to grapple with the sudden loss. In interviews, Maryam described the heartbreak of realizing her sister was gone and edged into a plea to other young people — “don’t do it — it’s just not worth it.”

What Authorities Say

The NYPD confirms it is treating the case as a subway surfing incident — the dangerous act of riding on the exterior of a moving subway train.

Investigators say Zemfira and Ebba were part of a larger group — roughly 15 teens were seen running inside the train before two were found atop the roof.

Transit authorities and police have viewed this as part of a broader upward trend of dangerous stunts on New York’s subway system.

A Life Cut Short: Who Was Zemfira Mukhtarov?

Zemfira, an eighth grader, was days away from her 13th birthday when she died. Her father described her in a GoFundMe post as “full of life,” noting that no parent should endure such grief.

Her mother, Nataliya, said she had tried to warn Zemfira about the dangers of stunts, but the warnings were ineffective against what appears to have become an obsession

In the days before her death, some of Zemfira’s social media activity reportedly included daring videos — walking atop narrow beams, lying between tracks as trains passed, and other risky stunts.

Friends and family describe her as energetic, curious, and assertive — traits that may have drawn her toward the rush of extremes. Her sister Maryam now speaks publicly about her grief, hoping to deter others from following such dangerous paths.

The Growing Threat of Subway Surfing: Trend, Toll, and Response

What Is Subway Surfing?

Subway surfing is a daredevil practice where people climb onto the roof, side, or exterior of subway cars in motion. The activity, long illegal and dangerous, has seen a resurgence in recent years, fueled by social media amplification and viral challenge culture

Its dangers are many: impact with low overpasses, electrocution from rail components, falls between cars, or being struck by infrastructure. Even experienced participants have suffered severe injuries or death.

The Rising Fatalities

Zemfira’s death comes amid a disturbing spike in fatalities attributed to subway surfing:

• In 2023, there were 5 reported deaths tied to subway surfing in New York City.

• In 2024, that number climbed to 6.

• The 2025 incident involving Zemfira and Ebba marks the fifth such death this year.

Transit officials, including NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow, have publicly decried the trend, warning:

“Getting on top of a subway car isn’t ‘surfing’ — it’s suicide.”

What Measures Are Being Taken?

• The NYPD has deployed drones to monitor trains and catch subway surfers in action

• Once located, field teams are dispatched to stop trains or intercept the individuals before more damage occurs.

• The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has rolled out public safety campaigns such as “Ride Inside, Stay Alive” to discourage exterior subway riding.

• In earlier cases, families of victims have filed wrongful death lawsuits against social media companies for algorithmic promotion of such dangerous challenges.

Yet the stubborn persistence of the trend suggests these steps are, so far, only partially effective.

Reflections: Technology, Youth, and the Risks of Virality

This tragedy brings to the fore a collision of several modern dangers:

Algorithms and Temptations

Young people are increasingly exposed — voluntarily or not — to content that normalizes daredevil behavior. Social media platforms, driven by engagement metrics, may inadvertently serve up more extreme content to keep eyes glued to screens. Critics and legal actions are pushing tech companies to assume greater responsibility.

The Impulse of Youth vs. the Boundaries of Risk

Adolescents — especially early teens — often have a diminished awareness of long-term consequences combined with high sensitivity to peer influence and the appeal of online fame. What seems like a harmless stunt to a teen might, behind the scenes, carry lethal threats.

The Role of Parents, Educators, and Communities

Zemfira’s case underscores the profound challenge families face: how do you monitor and counsel a child in an age where so much socializing happens digitally, often beyond direct parental supervision? Conversations about online dangers, building trust where kids feel they can share risky impulses, and cultivating critical digital literacy are more urgent than ever.

Aftermath and Ongoing Questions

The Mukhtarov family has launched a GoFundMe to help cover funeral and memorial expenses, with many in the community expressing solidarity.

Zemfira’s sister Maryam has taken public steps to honour her memory, turning her grief into advocacy: she speaks in interviews to caution other youth not to chase thrills that can end in tragedy.

Meanwhile, city and transit officials are under pressure to double down their prevention efforts — from station design changes, more surveillance, intensified safety campaigns, and robust engagement with youth — to stem the tide of further loss.

Final Thoughts

Zemfira Mukhtarov’s death is more than an isolated tragedy — it is a stark reminder of how the enticements of social media, the lure of viral stunts, and youthful daring can converge with deadly consequences. Behind the headlines, a young life with so much hope and potential has been extinguished.

As communities, transportation authorities, educators, families, and tech platforms confront this rising challenge, the question remains: how do we prevent another parent from enduring this heartbreak?

May her name awaken more urgent action, and may no child ever again feel that a dangerous challenge is worth the cost.