A new search has been launched for a British teenager who vanished while hiking alone in the mountains near Dracula’s castle, after he reportedly made an SOS call
FIND GEORGE
New search for Brit teenager who vanished in mountains near Dracula’s castle following SOS call on solo hiking trip
George Smyth, 18, vanished while hiking in RomaniaCredit: Jam Press/Newport Salop RUFC
Rescue teams have now relaunched their search for the missing teen
A desperate new search has been launched for a British teenager who vanished in the freezing mountains near Romania’s infamous “Dracula’s castle” after making a chilling SOS call.
George Smyth, an 18-year-old university student from Bristol, is now feared dead after disappearing during a solo hiking trip in one of Eastern Europe’s most unforgiving mountain regions. Despite months of uncertainty, rescue teams have returned to the snow-covered terrain in a renewed effort to bring answers to his devastated family.
George was last heard from on November 23, when he contacted Romania’s emergency services in a state of distress. During the call, he reportedly told operators he was exhausted, disoriented, and suffering from severe hypothermia. His plea for help would be the final known contact anyone had with him.
The teenager had been trekking alone through the Bucegi Mountains, a rugged and often treacherous range known for its dramatic weather shifts and dangerous winter conditions. He is believed to have set off from the popular mountain resort of Poiana Brașov, intending to hike to the nearby village of Bran — home to the legendary Bran Castle, often linked to the Dracula myth.
However, what may have started as an adventurous solo journey quickly turned into a nightmare.
Rescue teams later pieced together George’s likely route, concluding that he had reached the remote Țigănești Valley before placing his emergency call. The area is known for steep slopes, dense forest, and limited accessibility — conditions that become exponentially more dangerous as winter sets in.
Teams are battling against snow up to 10ft deepCredit: Jam Press/Salvamont Brasov
George went missing when the mountains were covered by a thick layer of snowCredit: Jam Press/Salvamont Brasov
Initial search efforts were launched immediately after his disappearance, involving more than 20 rescuers, supported by helicopters and specialist mountain teams. Despite their determination, extreme weather conditions — including heavy snowfall, freezing winds, and limited visibility — forced authorities to eventually suspend the operation.
Now, months later, the search has been reactivated.
Rescuers have returned to the same remote region, battling similarly harsh conditions in hopes that shifting snow may reveal new clues. However, the terrain remains incredibly challenging. Some areas are still buried under snow drifts measuring between six and ten feet deep, with certain pockets exceeding even that.
Search teams have been carefully combing both elevated ridges and lower valleys, paying particular attention to areas where snow accumulates beneath rock formations — places where a missing person could remain hidden for extended periods.
Rescue teams were forced to abandon their search mission due to poor conditions in winterCredit: Jam Press/Salvamont Brasov
A team has since re-visited the area where George last contacted authoritiesCredit: Jam Press/Salvamont Brasov
So far, the renewed efforts have yielded no breakthrough.
During earlier searches, rescuers did manage to locate a rucksack believed to belong to George, found in the general area where he was last traced. However, there was no sign of the teenager himself, deepening fears about his fate.
In an unprecedented move, a Black Hawk helicopter was deployed to assist the operation — marking the first time such aircraft had been used in a local mountain rescue. Teams were airlifted into otherwise inaccessible locations in a race against time and the elements.
Despite these efforts, hope has gradually faded.
George’s family has since released a heartbreaking statement, acknowledging the grim reality they now face.
Describing their son as “phenomenally kind and selfless,” they spoke of a young man full of energy, compassion, and a deep loyalty to those around him.
“It is cruel beyond belief,” they said, “but we have to accept that we have lost him.”
In a message filled with both sorrow and quiet hope, they added: “When the mountains that took him are ready to let go, George will be found, and we will bring him home to say goodbye.”
George, originally from Newport in Shropshire, had not informed his family of his hiking plans before leaving the UK. His sudden disappearance came as a complete shock.
His mother, Jo, immediately flew to Romania upon learning of the situation, determined to support the search efforts in any way she could.
“He left his university in the United Kingdom on Sunday without telling us, to go hiking alone,” she previously explained. “His phone last had signal in a remote mountain area. He made a distressing call to emergency services that evening.”
Her words paint a devastating picture of a young life caught in circumstances that escalated far beyond control.
Experts familiar with the Bucegi Mountains warn that the region can become deadly in a matter of minutes during late autumn and early winter. November and December often bring rapidly changing weather, with sudden fog, sub-zero temperatures, and powerful winds.
In such conditions, even experienced hikers can quickly become disoriented.
Hypothermia — the condition George reported during his final call — can set in alarmingly fast. Without adequate protection or shelter, a person’s body temperature can drop to dangerous levels within minutes, leading to confusion, loss of coordination, and ultimately unconsciousness.
Combined with exhaustion, the chances of survival diminish rapidly.
George’s intended route from Poiana Brașov to Bran is known for its scenic beauty, but also for its demanding terrain. The trail winds through dense forests before climbing steeply into exposed alpine zones — areas particularly vulnerable to sudden weather shifts and deep snow accumulation.
For a solo hiker, especially one unprepared for extreme conditions, the risks are immense.
As the renewed search continues, rescuers remain determined but realistic. Each passing day makes the chances of finding George alive increasingly unlikely, yet the mission has taken on a new purpose — to bring closure to a grieving family.
For now, the mountains hold their silence.
But for those who loved George Smyth, the hope remains that one day, that silence will finally be broken.
