A body has been recovered in Romania during the search for 18-year-old British hiker George Smyth, who was reported missing in November. Avon and Somerset police confirmed that the remains discovered in the region are believed to belong to the teenager, who was a geology student at the University of Bristol.
Smyth, originally from Newport in Shropshire, went missing while attempting to hike from Poiana Brașov toward Bran. During his journey, he reached Țigănești and placed an emergency call for assistance. At the time of the call, mountain rescue teams reported that he was in an isolated, difficult-to-access area and suffering from extreme weather conditions, including dense fog, heavy snowfall, and high winds. Sebastian Marinescu of the local mountain rescue service previously noted that the student was physically exhausted, disoriented, and showing signs of hypothermia when he reached out for help.
The search operation was extensive, utilizing drones, helicopters, and a canine unit. As recently as Wednesday, rescue teams had returned to the area to search hard-to-reach sectors, including grates and rock walls, though those efforts were initially unsuccessful. The family of the student has been notified and is currently receiving support from a family liaison officer.
In a statement, the family expressed their devastation, describing George as “the best of us” and noting how deeply he is missed by his friends and younger brothers. They extended their gratitude to the Salvamont mountain rescue team for their tireless work under dangerous conditions, as well as to the University of Bristol and Avon and Somerset police for their support. The family has requested privacy as they process their loss. Efforts are underway to return Smyth’s body to the UK following formal identification.
