Twelve-year-old Zemfira Mukhtarov, who died along with a teen friend subway surfing together on top of a Brooklyn train, was supposed to make brownies with her dad but snuck out of the house instead, the grieving father told the Daily News.
Ruslan Mukhtarov described his daughter as unique and “honest to a fault” even after she left their Bay Ridge home without his permission. And even though she was responsible for her own fateful choice, he said, there was plenty of blame to go around for her tragic death — from the influence of social media to busy parents to the MTA for not having more safeguards.
“The day before her death, we planned to bake brownies together,” Mukhtarov said. “Hers were the best I’d ever tasted. It was her idea to sell them at the local market and I wanted to support her. But we never got the chance.”
Zemfira was due to turn 13 later this month. She is amongst the youngest of the city’s subway surfing victims in recent memory.
Last September, 11-year-old Cayden Thompson was killed subway surfing in Park Slope. His mother told the Daily News he was lured by social media.
Courtesy of family
Zemfira Mukhtarov, 12. (Courtesy of family)
But rather than pointing fingers, Mukhtarov said he had a message for parents still fortunate enough to hug their children at night.
“If I’d had more time amid the challenges of immigration, maybe this wouldn’t have happened, though nothing’s guaranteed,” Mukhtarov said.
“The lesson I’ve learned is to be grateful for the moments we create with family, not the obstacles that derail us. Give more love and time to your loved ones — a good memory will stay with you forever, even after an unexpected loss we can’t predict.”
Mukhtarov described his daughter as “incredibly sociable.”
“She made new friends every day, and people were naturally drawn to her,” Mukhtarov said. “I always wanted to be more than just her dad. I wanted to be her friend, but I struggled with that. I envy parents who build true friendships with their kids, without the constant fear that comes with traditional parenting.”
Courtesy of family
Zemfira Mukhtarov (right) with her father, Ruslan Mukhtarov. (Courtesy of family)
One of Zemfira‘s friends was a 13-year-old girl who climbed to the top of a train with her early Saturday, according to cops.
The two teens were found sprawled out on top of the last car of a J train after it entered the Marcy Ave. subway stop at Broadway around 3:10 a.m. The train had just come across the Williamsburg Bridge from Manhattan.
Each teen suffered a head injury and died on top of the train, cops said.
The deaths were the latest in a string of subway surfing incidents.
Courtesy of family
Zemfira Mukhtarov, 12. (Courtesy of family)
Zemfira‘s dad said he thinks both girls would be alive if kids spent less time on their phones watching YouTube and TikTok videos.
“That’s where she learned about this dangerous ‘game’ of risking your life for thrills, like extreme climbing on trains and bridges,” he said. “It’s a key factor I wish I’d known about sooner.“
