A Russian child was electrocuted and killed on top of a moving train. The 11-year-old boy, identified as Ilya, was reportedly “train surfing” when he climbed up on a train and came into contact with a high-voltage power line in the Moscow region.
Witnesses said the child went limp instantly after being struck by the powerful current. While his body remained motionless on the train’s roof, horrified onlookers called for help, and gruesome footage from one bystander was shared online.
When emergency responders arrived at the scene, the boy could not be saved. Russian officials later confirmed that Ilya suffered fatal electrical burns. The tragic footage has since circulated online.
Train surfing, a thrill-seeking act often fuelled by social media dares, has become a global concern. In the United States, a similar incident occurred in early October involving two young girls in New York City.
Officials found twelve-year-old Zemfira Mukhtarov of Brooklyn and thirteen-year-old Ebba Morina of Manhattan lifeless on top of a train. The girls reportedly went train surfing around 3 a.m. when they climbed on top of a Brooklyn-bound J train at the Marcy Avenue-Broadway station. Both had been part of a group of teens reportedly running through subway cars before climbing onto the roof.
Zemfira’s father, Ruslan Mukhtarov, was left devastated after the incident and created a GoFundMe for her. On the page, he expressed that his daughter was “full of life and taken from us far too soon.”
Subway surfing has become a deadly challenge for teens, and the total number of victims in 2025 currently stands at five. According to reports, there has been a sharp rise in fatalities this year compared to just five fatalities from 2018 to 2022.
Officials warn against participating in the extremely dangerous stunt. Additionally, transit leaders stressed that climbing on subway cars is not a thrill but a life-threatening act. In response to the trend, the MTA has run a “Ride Inside, Stay Alive” campaign since 2023. The NYPD has also taken action by increasing patrols and deploying drones to catch riders.
According to police reports, there were 135 train surfing incidents in 2023, and that number rose significantly in 2024, when authorities recorded 229 incidents. Authorities continue to call on parents and communities to educate children about the severe risks, emphasising that one wrong move can be fatal.
