An urgent search is underway in the remote mountains of Romania for a British teenager who disappeared eight days ago after making a desperate call for help near the infamous Dracula's Castle.
The Final Distress Call
George Smyth, an 18-year-old from the UK, embarked on a solo hike last Sunday towards the village of Bran, the location popularly associated with the legend of Dracula. He did not inform his family of his plans before leaving his university. His last known contact was a call to Romanian emergency services from the Tiganesti Valley, a densely forested area within the snow-covered Carpathian Mountains.
During that final call, George reported he was suffering from severe exhaustion and the onset of hypothermia. His phone signal was lost immediately afterwards, and he has not been heard from since. The alert for his disappearance was issued on Friday night, prompting his mother, Jo Smyth, to fly to Romania immediately to support the search efforts.
Challenging Search Hampered by Weather
Search and rescue teams from Salvamont Brasov have faced extremely difficult conditions. Daily operations have been repeatedly disrupted by dangerous weather, heavy snowfall, and the perilous terrain. An overnight search was launched on Sunday evening following his distress call but proved unsuccessful.
Searches have continued on foot and with all available equipment. In a significant escalation of efforts, a Black Hawk helicopter was deployed to rapidly transport intervention teams to the most inaccessible parts of the mountain massif. Rescuers have since found a rucksack containing equipment in the area from which he called, but there has been no trace of George himself.
A Perilous Environment for Hikers
The region between his planned start point of Poiana Brasov and Bran is known for its long, forested trails that rise sharply into high alpine sections. The period of November and early December brings rapidly changing conditions, including sudden fog, freezing winds, and unstable snowpacks.
Hypothermia, a dangerous drop in body temperature below 35°C, can set in within minutes if a hiker is unprotected or exhausted. Authorities have stressed that despite continuous efforts and the use of advanced technology, no new clues have emerged to indicate George's whereabouts.
Authorities have released a photograph of George and confirmed he was wearing the jacket shown in the image. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Romanian authorities immediately.
