Andrew DawkinsWest Midlands
Family
A mountain rescue service said family asked it to share a photo of George Smyth
Searches have been taking place for a British teenager missing for more than a week since going hiking in mountains in Romania.
George Smyth, 18, a University of Bristol student from Shropshire, had been missing since 23 November in the Bucegi Mountains despite daily searches, Brașov Mountain Rescue said.
He is believed to have left Poiana Brașov heading to Bran, the site of Count Dracula’s castle. Mr Smyth reached Tiganesti, where he asked for support via the 112 emergency number.
His mother, Jo Smyth, told Antena1 TV in Romania: “We are hoping and praying he’s somehow survived this, against all odds, as the thought of life without him is unbearable.”
She told the TV station he was “a very bright, loving and adventurous young man” who had gone hiking on his own, without telling his family.
His phone had last sent back a signal from a remote mountainous location, she said.
Sebastian Marinescu, from the local mountain rescue service, told the BBC when it received the emergency call from Mr Smyth, “he was disoriented, physically exhausted, and already showing signs of hypothermia”.
He said his location was in a “very isolated and hard-to-access mountain area” and the weather conditions “were extremely severe with strong winds, heavy snowfall, and dense fog”.
Mr Smyth was advised to turn back along the same route and keep moving to avoid falling asleep through hypothermia.
“We still cannot fully understand why he continued forward, especially since darkness sets in around 17:00 at this time of year.” Mr Marinescu said.
More than 50 mountain rescuers, a canine unit, drones and helicopters had been in the search, he said, but only a backpack containing his possessions had been found.
The risk of an avalanche had forced the search to be abandoned after seven days and Mr Marinescu said: “We cannot fight against nature and until the weather allows safe access, we cannot advance the search without endangering the lives of our rescuers.”
But he said the rescue service remained “fully committed to doing everything within our power to bring George back”.
‘He kept trip from us’
The service said his family had asked it to share the photo of him, and asked anybody who had seen him or had “any relevant information” to urgently get in touch or go to the nearest police station.
Mrs Smyth said she and her family had travelled to Romania to “support the search teams as best we are able”.
She told Antena1 TV: “He kept this trip from us so we would not worry about him.”
She also said he had travelled a lot with his family and with his friends and loved the mountains.
Mr Smyth’s rugby club in Newport, Shropshire, said he grew up through its junior section, was “a much-loved member of our club”, and its thoughts were with him, family and friends.
At the weekend it said everyone at the club was “deeply concerned to hear that George Smyth has been reported missing while hiking the Bucegi Mountain range in Romania”.
He represented its Colts last season and had “often given his time wholeheartedly to help coach our younger age groups”.
“He has always been part of the Newport rugby family, and this news has touched all of us,” the club added.
“As a club and a rugby family, we are holding onto hope that George is found safe and well, and hope that the ongoing search efforts in Romania bring positive news soon.”
The club said it asked everyone to keep him and the family “in their hearts”.
A University of Bristol spokesperson said: “We’ve been informed that one of our students has been reported missing after independently travelling to Romania to go hiking.”
“We are deeply concerned for his welfare and are in close contact with his family.
“Our thoughts are with them as they await any updates.”
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office added: “We are supporting the family of British man who is missing in Romania and are in contact with the local authorities.”