A British family have been left devastated and confused after their teenage son went missing near Dracula’s castle following a ‘strange’ solo trip.
The search for 18-year-old George Smyth has been ongoing for almost two weeks now after he disappeared in Romania on 23 November, in what rescue teams are describing as an increasingly peculiar case.
Having arrived in Romania with his family the day prior, the University of Bristol student decided to set off on a hike without informing his family, heading on a 15-mile walk from Poiana Brașov to Bran Castle, commonly referred to as ‘Dracula’s castle’.
Although he was an experienced climber, the teen was forced to battle difficult weather conditions and was warned to turn around after contacting a rescue team for help.
Sebastian Marinescu, chief of the rescue service, described it as a ‘very strange case’.
He added: “The route he took on Sunday November 23 isn’t very difficult technically, but he chose a very long route, which can be done in two or three days, a route of about 15 miles in the mountains.
“From the Mălăiești Chalet, there is also a refuge there, the chalet is about 5 hours by foot from Bran Castle, about 8 miles, which was open.
Bran Castle has long been thought of as the home of Dracula (Salvatore Laporta/KONTROLAB/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“Which means that he passed by the Mălăiești cabin at some point around 8 or 9 in the evening.
“I do not understand why didn’t he stop if he saw that the weather was terrible.
“I mean, it was totally unsuitable for someone to go up the mountain. Especially on such a long route, alone, at night.”
Due to the adverse conditions, which have included snow and a high avalanche risk, rescue efforts were paused but are expected to be resumed today (4 December), so long as the weather remains clear.
George contacted the emergency rescue team when he reached Tiganesti (Getty Stock)
Now George’s mother Jo has issued a heartfelt plea to Antena1 TV in Romania, saying: “We are hoping and praying he’s somehow survived this, against all odds, as the thought of life without him is unbearable.”
When George did finally contact the emergency rescue teams when he reached Tiganesti, he was said to be ‘disoriented, physically exhausted, and already showing signs of hypothermia’.
He was warned to turn around and retrace his steps, while also being urged to keep moving to avoid hypothermia, but it seems as if he was determined to continue on his journey and now nobody has heard from him in close to two weeks.
“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.
Rescue officials were able to retrieve the teenager’s backpack, where he also had a sleeping bag and a stove, which have also left emergency services confused as to why he didn’t use them to keep himself warm.
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.”
