Teen critical after social media ‘train surfing’ stunt

By Sarah Spina-Matthews in Sydney

A teenager is fighting for life after falling from a train onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge, prompting a grave warning about a social media trend.

NSW Police said the 17-year-old boy fell from a train onto tracks between Wynard and Milsons Point stations as it crossed the bridge about 11.30am on Thursday.

He suffered injuries to his head, chest and pelvis and was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition, a NSW Ambulance spokesperson told AAP.

Inspector Luke Barrett said the teenager was hanging off the side of the train’s rear carriage when he fell as part of a practice known as “buffer riding”.

He said the activity was becoming increasingly common among young people who had seen it on social media.

“We would really like to take this opportunity to encourage any person that is considering or actively engaged in this type of activity to not get caught up in the social media hype and the videos that circulate around on those social media platforms, glorifying this type of activity,” Insp Barrett told reporters.

“The consequences should something go wrong … can result in very serious injuries or possible death.”

Sydney Trains acting head Jas Tumber said the front and rear carriages of Tangara double-decker trains were being locked off during school holidays to prevent the practice, also referred to as train surfing.

Insp Barrett said it was likely the 17-year-old and his two companions broke into the rear carriage.

The two people were taken for questioning by police, he said.

Mr Tumber said there had been about 600 train-surfing incidents in 2025, and about 150 in 2026.

Other measures, such as putting cones around the front buffers of the fleet of Tangara double-decker trains, had also been taken to try to curb the practice.

“You just don’t mess or play with a 400-tonne train,” Mr Tumber told reporters.

“It’s just not worth the five seconds of social media fame that you’re looking for.”