UK teenager disappears near Dracula’s Castle in Romanian mountains – national

The search for a British student who went missing while Solo Hiking in a Romanian mountain range has reached its 10th day.

University of Bristol student George Smyth, 18, was hiking in the Bucegi Mountains when he called emergency services on November 23, people said.

Smyth told search and rescue personnel on the phone that he was suffering from hypothermia and exhaustion.

He is believed to be returning from Bran Castle – which is marketed as “Dracula’s castle” to tourists, but is actually linked to the main character of Bram Stoker’s famous novel.

Mountain rescuers began searching in the following days. They returned their backpack, which contained equipment and supplies, to the site, according to British newspaper The Times.

On Saturday, the search of Salvamont Brasov and published on Facebook that more than 20 rescuers in the mountains were again working and searching in several places, as well as drones, helicopters and canine units, according to the BBC.

“Unfortunately, these efforts have not led to the identification of relevant new information to date,” the statement said.

Days earlier, at the request of his family, Salvamont Brasov shared Smyth’s photo, along with a request for anyone with information to come forward.

His mother, Jo smyth, told the Romanian outlet antena1va, “We hope and pray somehow we survived this, against all the unbearable, as the thought of life without him is unbearable.”

She described her son as “a very bright, loving and happy young man.”

Smyth decided to go alone without informing his family, he added, explaining that his phone ended up sending a signal from a remote, mountainous area.

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Local mountain rescuer Sebastian Marinescu told the BBC that SMYTH said he was “collapsed” and “physically exhausted” when he received his call, and that he did so from an area facing high winds, heavy snow and long fog.

He was told to go back and retrace the route he had taken and keep walking to avoid hypothermia.

“We can no longer fully understand why he continues forward, especially since darkness lasts until 5 in the evening at this time of the year,” said Marnescu.

An avalanche risk halted the search after a week, he continued.

“We cannot fight against nature, and until the weather allows safe access, we cannot continue the search without putting the lives of our helpers at risk,” adding that the service will do everything in the mountain.

A spokesperson for the University of Bristol said it was aware that one of its students was missing.

“We have been told that one of our students has been reported missing after traveling independently to Romania to go hiking,” it said.

“We are very concerned for his welfare and are in contact with his family.

“Our thoughts are with them as they await updates.”

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