An urgent search is underway in the remote, snow-covered mountains of Romania for an 18-year-old British hiker who vanished after making a desperate call for help. George Smyth has been missing for eight days near the area famed for its association with Dracula's Castle.
The Final Distress Call and Disappearance
George Smyth, from the United Kingdom, embarked on a solo hike last Sunday towards the village of Bran, the location of the legendary Dracula's Castle. After reaching the densely forested Tiganesti Valley in the snowy Carpathian Mountains, the teenager contacted Romanian emergency services.
In what was to be his final known communication, George reported he was suffering from severe exhaustion and the onset of hypothermia. His phone signal was lost in the remote alpine area, and he has not been heard from since.
Massive But Hampered Rescue Operation
Authorities launched an overnight search immediately after his call, which continued until morning without success. Daily operations have been severely disrupted by dangerous weather conditions, including heavy snow, freezing winds, and sudden fog banks common for November and early December.
Search crews have scoured the rugged terrain on foot using all available equipment. In a significant escalation of efforts, Salvamont Brasov deployed a Black Hawk helicopter to rapidly insert intervention teams into the most inaccessible parts of the massif, a first for local rescue operations.
Rescuers later discovered a rucksack containing equipment in the area from which he called, but no trace of George himself has been found.
A Mother's Anguish and a Plea for Information
George's mother, Jo Smyth, flew to Romania immediately after the alert was issued for her son on Friday night. She revealed he had left his UK university without informing his family to go on the lone hiking trip.
"His phone last had signal in a remote mountain area," Jo Smyth said. "I flew to Romania immediately, and we are trying to support the search teams as best we can."
Authorities have released a photograph of George and confirmed he was wearing the jacket shown in the picture. They are urging anyone with information to come forward.
The Perils of the Mountain Trail
The planned route between Poiana Brasov and Bran involves long, forested trails that climb sharply into high alpine sections. These paths become particularly treacherous during cold snaps, where hypothermia can set in within minutes for an unprotected or exhausted hiker.
Despite continuous efforts since last Sunday and the use of all available technology, rescue teams stress that no new clues have emerged to indicate George's current whereabouts.
