NY girl, 12, killed subway surfing after posting daredevil TikToks

A 12-year-old Brooklyn girl died while subway surfing after repeatedly posting dangerous stunt videos on TikTok, including footage of herself lying on train tracks.

Zemfira Mukhtarov was killed early Saturday while riding atop a J train near the Marcy Avenue-Broadway station. Her mother, Nataliya Rudenko, said the pre-teen had sneaked out of their Bay Ridge home while family members slept.

The girl had posted numerous daredevil videos showing herself on subway tracks, atop the Williamsburg Bridge, and performing other dangerous stunts throughout New York City. Rudenko described struggling to control her thrill-seeking daughter despite repeated warnings about the dangers.

Zemfira and a 13-year-old friend were found unconscious near Williamsburg station around 3:10 am Saturday and later pronounced dead. Police reported up to 15 youngsters were inside the train before the tragedy.

The incident continues a troubling trend of subway surfing fatalities, with six deaths last year and five in 2023, compared to just five total between 2018 and 2022. City officials continue warning youth against the social media-fueled stunts.