Family Say Teen Who Vanished Near Dracula’s Castle on Hike Is 'Lost to Us'

Family Say Teen Who Vanished Near Dracula’s Castle on Hike Is 'Lost to Us'

"When the mountains that took him are ready to let go, George will be found, and we will bring him home to say goodbye," the Smyth family said in tribute to missing teen George Smyth

Charna Flam

Wed, January 21, 2026 at 10:35 PM UTC

3 min read

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Salvamont Brasov Facebook George Smyth — Salvamont Brasov Facebook
George Smyth

NEED TO KNOW

George Smyth, a University of Bristol teen, went missing in the Bucegi Mountains on Nov. 14 while hiking towards the Romanian landmark of Dracula's Castle
The 18-year-old called for help nine days later and was declared missing shortly after
Nearly two months since his disappearance, his family issued a statement grieving him, remembering him as a "phenomenally kind and selfless person"

The family of George Smyth, the teenager who went missing in the Bucegi Mountains on Nov. 14, is grieving his "sudden loss."

Smyth, 18, went on a hike in the Romanian mountains in pursuit of Bran commune near Brasov, Transylvania, which is notably home to the landmark known as Dracula's Castle. Nine days later, on Nov. 23, he called for help, and shortly after was declared missing and hasn't been found.

At the time of his disappearance, the mountains were hit with "were extremely severe with strong winds, heavy snowfall, and dense fog," Sebastian Marinescu, director of Salvamont Brasov, told the BBC.

The University of Bristol student was in a "very isolated and hard-to-access mountain area," Marinescu said, and during the search, there was a "high and persistent avalanche risk in the area" and growing snow accumulation. He told the outlet that the specially trained mountain rescuers are "on standby and fully prepared to intervene immediately should new information or relevant indications arise."

Nearly two months after his hike, George's family issued a statement via his rugby team's Facebook page, the Newport Salop Rugby Club.

"We are deeply sorry for the pain we all share," the statement read. "We are incredibly moved by your love for George, which is a fitting reflection of what he means to us all."

"George was a phenomenally kind and selfless person, fiercely loyal to his friends and full of energy and enthusiasm for everything he did. We will never forget George’s unique character," the statement continued. "He brought so much to our lives and had more impact on the world during his eighteen years than many people achieve over much longer periods."

Getty Coltii Morarului peak and Bucsoiu peek as seen from Grecului peak — Getty
Coltii Morarului peak and Bucsoiu peek as seen from Grecului peak

The Smyth family reflected on how it is "cruel beyond belief that George is now lost to us," adding how "lucky" they feel to have known him. "[We] will treasure every moment we spent together, despite our immense grief and sadness that we can no longer see him, speak to him or hold him in our arms."

"When the mountains that took him are ready to let go, George will be found, and we will bring him home to say goodbye," the family's statement read.

"We have already taken great comfort in reminiscing with family and friends and talking (and laughing) about the adventures we shared and our fondest memories of George," the family said, before inviting people to help remember the teen and share "short, long, poignant, funny, serious, daft" memories of him.

Before George went missing, he reportedly made an emergency call to Romania’s emergency line. He was “disoriented, physically exhausted, and already showing signs of hypothermia,” an official with the local rescue service previously told the BBC.

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Shortly after the search commenced, his backpack was located in the area where he made his call, U.K. outlet The Times reported. His backpack “had quite a lot of equipment in it — a sleeping bag, a tent," as well as food, Marinescu told local media, according to The Times. "So we don’t understand what happened and where he could have gone.”

The University of Bristol, Newport Salop Rugby Club and Zărnești Local Public Mountain Rescue Service did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for further comment.

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