AN ATTEMPT AT THE VIRAL SUBWAY CHALLENGE LEAVE ONE TEENAGER DEAD AND OTHER IN CRITICAL STATE

While trying to follow the risky "subway surfing" trend, a 13-year-old girl lost her life, and another girl is in critical condition at the hospital.

New Yorker Krystel Romero had chosen to participate in the viral challenge with a friend when they stumbled and fell between train carriages in the Queens neighbourhood of the city. Romero passed away from her wounds after being struck by the moving train, and the other girl, who has not been identified, is still in the hospital with a fractured skull and a brain bleed.

What is 'subway surfing'?

The practice of riding outside a moving train—either on top of a carriage, on the side, or in between—is known as "subway surfing," or "train surfing."

The practice of subway surfing is not new; it has long been used as an inexpensive way to get around the world on crowded trains.

It seems to be well-liked by young teens, as many are reportedly recording their adventures and posting them on different social media sites to gain attention. Some brave people will even try to leap from one moving carriage to another.

It goes without saying, though, that subway surfing is very risky, as it exposes users to the possibility of falling, getting struck by moving trains or getting electrocuted by live wires.

In an interview with the New York Post after her daughter's tragic death, Krystel's mother, Maria Elena Ortiz, 31, begged teenagers not to follow the trend, saying she doesn't "want to live" after her daughter's passing.

She remarked, "Stop [subway] surfing — it’s not a game," Consider the suffering you will cause your family if you pass away. Please don't do it, kids.

She went on, "I don't want to live right now." "I'm in such a desperate situation. She was my child.

Adolfo Sorzano, 13, and Cayden Thompson, 11, both died from subway surfing in the last few months, making Krystel the most recent teen to die as a result of participating in the deadly trend.

Thus far in 2024, the trend has claimed six lives, more than the five recorded in 2023.

In a subsequent social media post, New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed his condolences to the families of Krystal and the unidentified girl, writing: "I'm devastated to learn that another life has been taken by subway surfing and the desire for social media influence.

"We are making every effort to bring attention to this harmful trend, but everyone in New York, including our social media companies, must contribute as well. Your future is not worth any post.