A 7-year-old nonverbal autistic boy embarked on an astonishing solo journey from a restaurant in Queens to Midtown Manhattan, aiming to reach the iconic Empire State Building, his mother shared with the Daily News on Saturday.
Farjana Akond, the boy’s mother, expressed her disbelief at her son Ruwaid Karim’s remarkable adventure, saying, “He was very, very close [to getting there]. I never thought that he could do that.”
The incident unfolded on Friday when Ruwaid, who is known for his exceptional memory of maps, left the Dera Restaurant on Broadway in Jackson Heights at approximately 11:45 a.m. After his mother stepped away for just two minutes to wash her hands, she realized he had disappeared.
“He’s never been out on the street, so I was very worried,” she recalled, noting the anxiety that gripped her as she scanned the restaurant for her son.
Approximately three hours later, Ruwaid emerged on Lexington Avenue, less than 25 blocks from his coveted destination. A vigilant woman spotted him running into traffic and acted quickly to prevent a tragedy.
The unnamed Good Samaritan, later identified as Christina, recounted how she intervened just in time. “He went across the crosswalk when it was still red,” she said, describing the chaotic moment when Ruwaid ran into the street as cars swerved to avoid him. “There were two different cars going each way that stopped and they were honking their horns, and he just kept going.”
Christina managed to catch Ruwaid before any harm came to him and promptly dialed 911, ensuring the boy’s safe return.
As police arrived on the scene, Akond was swiftly brought to Midtown to reunite with her adventurous son.
The family, originally from Texas, was visiting New York City to explore its landmarks. Ruwaid’s mother explained his fascination with significant sites, stating, “[He wants to see] the Empire State Building and 1 World Trade Center. He wants to visit the [site of the] Avengers Tower.”
This trip was meant to fulfill Ruwaid’s aspirations after they missed the chance to visit the Empire State Building during their previous visit the year before. Akond could hardly fathom that her son would attempt to navigate the city alone to reach a place he held in such high regard.
The police surmised that Ruwaid managed to take a train to Manhattan based on surveillance footage from the subway stations. Akond recounted their comments, stating, “[The police said] there’s no other options. To get there, he had to take the train.”
“I was tormented with thoughts of what could happen while he crossed the streets. He’s never been in a bus or train by himself. It was a horrible three hours for me,” she admitted, her mind racing with concern during his absence.
Fortunately, on Saturday morning, little Ruwaid was all smiles, cheerfully holding figurines of the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty as he looked forward to his next sightseeing adventure.
According to Akond, her son has a remarkable photographic memory when it comes to maps. “Whenever he is with a device, he loves to browse the maps. He wants to see how to get there,” she shared proudly.
When asked about her son’s demeanor following the ordeal, Akond reassured, “He’s OK. He feels like he’s a big boy. There’s nothing to worry about.”
Thus, amid the harrowing circumstances, a mother reflects on her son’s adventurous spirit while expressing gratitude for their reunion.
image source from：https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/04/19/autistic-boy-7-trekked-alone-queens-midtown-yearned-see-empire-state-building/
