Australian teen fighting for life after falling off outside of train in likely ‘buffer riding’ stunt

Australian teen fighting for life after falling off outside of train in likely ‘buffer riding’ stunt ‘You just don’t mess, or play with a 400-tonne train,’ says the head of Sydney's rail operations - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in A teenager is critical after falling onto the railway tracks of the Sydney Harbour Bridge while allegedly train surfing. Emergency services were rushed to a train corridor at around 11.30am local time on Thursday after the 17-year-old fell on the tracks, police said. The boy was riding on the outside of the train when he fell, suffering injuries to his head, chest and pelvis, according to New South Wales police inspector Luke Barrett. The victim was a part of a group of three youths, the police said, adding that the other two boys were brought in for questioning. Mr Barrett said there were no suggestions that the pair also rode on the train. He said the teen was riding on the outside of the train in a dangerous activity "that is commonly referred to as ‘buffer riding'". Buffer riding, or train surfing, has gained popularity among young people in recent years, largely due to the rise of thrill-seeker content on social media. A CareFlight Helicopter arrived at a nearby Bradfield Park, where the teenager was treated before being taken to a waiting ambulance by the medical team. The teenager was rushed to the Royal North Shore Hospital, where he remained in a critical condition. "This is a tragic incident, not only for the 17-year-old himself but for his family," Mr Barrett said in a statement. He advised the youth to "not get caught up in the social media hype". "This is highly dangerous, carries an extreme risk and is not worth risking serious injury or even death for," Mr Barrett added. The incident led to a halt in train services between Wynyard and Milsons Point on the T1 North Shore line. The rail services resumed at around 1pm, according to reports. Jas Tumber, the head of Sydney's rail operations, said the delays caused by the incident were "significant" and warned against engaging in the dangerous act. “You just don’t mess, or play, with a 400-tonne train,” he said, according to 9News. “It is just not worth the five seconds of social media fame you are looking for.” Mr Tumber said the dangerous trend has a serious effect on their lives along with the services. "These kids are damaging the cabs, causing damage to the trains; we then have to bring it back into the maintenance centre, which takes it out of service," he rued. He added that Sydney Trains saw about 600 similar incidents across last year and "close to about 150" in 2026 so far. The NSW police said they were investigating how the teenager fell from the train. Last year, two teenage boys died in a train accident in Berlin after they hit a signal bridge while train surfing. The boys, aged 17 and 18, were joyriding on the roof of a train when they collided with a steel structure, according to police. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments