Body found in search for Brit teen George Smyth who vanished after call for help while hiking

Body found in search for Brit teen George Smyth who vanished after call for help while hiking Bristol university student George Smyth, 18, went missing while on a solo hiking trip in Valea Gigănesti, in Romania A body has been found in the search for a Brit teenager who vanished while on a hiking trip after making a desperate call in which he said he was exhausted and suffering from hypothermia. Bristol university geology student George Smyth, 18, went missing while on a solo hiking trip in Valea Gigănesti, Romania, in November. At the time, his mother told local outlet Observator News: "He left his college in the UK on Sunday, without telling us, to go hiking alone. His phone last had a signal in an isolated area in the mountains. He made a heart-wrenching call to 112 on Sunday evening. "His backpack was found at the same location from where he called for help. We flew to Romania immediately and are trying to support the search teams as best we can." The teenager was understood to have been walking to the village of Bran, home to Bran Castle, which is popularly known as Dracula's Castle. Rescuers believe he reached the Tiganesti valley - over 6,562 feet above sea level - where he made the emergency call Avon and Somerset Police said today: "A body has been found as part of the search for missing 18-year-old George, who went missing while hiking in Romania. "We have been notified by local authorities in Romania that a body had been found in the Bucegi Mountain region of the European country." They added: "While formal identification has not yet taken place, it is believed to be George Smyth, a geology university student from Bristol, who went missing in November 2025." The Brit teen’s family have been notified and are being supported, police added. George's loved ones said: "We are all devastated by George’s death. He was the best of us and is deeply missed by his younger brothers, family and friends. "We want to thank Salvamont Mountain Rescue, who have worked tirelessly since November searching for George; despite very difficult and often dangerous conditions. "They are an amazing team, and have remained in constant communication, helping us greatly throughout this awful time." They also thanked Avon and Somerset Police and University of Bristol. The family added: "Although this latest news is incredibly painful, the torture of waiting is finally over, so we can now focus on bringing George home and saying goodbye."