Devastated family of Brooklyn boy, 14, who died subway surfing begs other teens to stop

A 14-year-old Brooklyn boy died after falling off a train while subway surfing over the Williamsburg Bridge. His family urged anyone considering the stunt to stop, saying social media clout is not worth risking a life. An 18-year-old was found unconscious with him and is in critical condition. The family is trying to understand what led to the incident and whether peer pressure played a role, given the age difference between the boys. They described subway surfing as a dangerous cycle that has existed for years and said social media and TikTok have increased interest. The victim’s mother and relatives expressed deep grief and disbelief at the loss.

"“Just stop! Stop!” Sharean Butler begged on Sunday. Butler helped raise the victim, Akhi Butler, who is her cousin's son. Social media clout isn't worth your life, Butler said. “You can get that somehow, someway, another way that's more safer,” she said. “That is not it at all. And most of the times it ends up tragically.”"

"Akhi and an 18-year-old boy were found unconscious on the roadbed of the J and M lines on the Williamsburg Bridge around 6:50 p.m. Friday, according to police. Akhi died at the scene while the survivor is in currently in critical condition at Bellevue Hospital. “It's very hard,” said Butler. “We've all got heavy hearts right now ... I've been lost for words since we heard this.”"

"Butler called subway surfing a “dangerous cycle” that has been “going on for years.” “This was a thing when I was even at school,” she said. Social media and TikTok have made the problem worse, Akhi's relatives believe. “The subway surfing thing, my opinion, I think t"

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