A 13-year-old girl has died while attempting to complete the dangerous 'subway surfing' trend, with another girl currently hospitalised in a critical condition.
Krystel Romero, from New York, had decided to take part in the viral challenge alongside a friend when they lost their balance and fell off between the carriages of a train in the Queens district of the city. Both girls were subsequently run over by the moving train, with Romero succumbing to her injuries while the other girl (who has not been named) remains in hospital with a fractured skull and brain bleed.
What is 'subway surfing'?
Subway surfing, also referred to as 'train surfing', is a trend which sees people ride outside a moving train, either on top of a carriage, on the side or in-between.
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Subway surfing isn't a new phenomenon, with the practice previously being utilised as a cheap method to travel on overcrowded trains around the world.
The appears to be popular among young teenagers, with many reported to be filming their exploits and sharing it across various social media platforms for popularity. Some daring individuals will even attempt to jump between moving carriages.
However it should go without saying that subway surfing is extremely dangerous, with participants putting themselves at risk of falling, being run over by moving trains or electrocuted by live wires.
"I feel so desperate, she was my baby"
Following the news of her devastating death, Krystel's mother Maria Elena Ortiz, 31, pleaded with teenagers not to take part in the trend during an interview with the New York Post, adding that she doesn't 'want to live' after her daughter's death.
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"Stop [subway] surfing — it’s not a game," she said. “If you die, think of the pain you will cause your family. Please kids, don’t do it."
"I don’t want to live right now," she added. "I feel so desperate. She was my baby."
Krystel is the latest teenager to die after taking part in the devastating trend, with 13-year-old Adolfo Sorzano and 11-year-old Cayden Thompson losing their lives from subway surfing in the past couple of months.
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There has been a total of six deaths from the trend so far in 2024, surpassing 2023's death toll of five.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has since shared a statement on social media expressing his condolences to the families of Krystal and the unnamed girl, writing: "Heartbroken to hear that subway surfing — and the pursuit of social media clout — has stolen another life.
"We are doing everything we can to raise awareness against this dangerous trend, but we need all New Yorkers — and our social media companies — to do their part, too. No post is worth your future.
"My prayers are with the families of both girls."
Brenna Cooper