A body discovered in Romania's Bucegi Mountains is believed to be that of George Smyth, the 18-year-old British geology student who went missing while hiking in the region last year, Avon and Somerset police said. The force confirmed the family has been notified and is receiving support from a family liaison officer, though formal identification has not yet taken place.
According to a national broadcaster's report, Avon and Somerset Police said local Romanian officials had informed them of the discovery, made on 15 August 2026, though confirmation of the identity is still pending. The same report notes that Smyth had been missing since 23 November 2025, meaning the search stretched across roughly nine months.
Who was George Smyth and what happened to him?
Smyth, a geology student at the University of Bristol from Newport in Shropshire, disappeared during a solo hike through the Bucegi Mountains toward the town of Bran. He is understood to have set out from Poiana Brașov before reaching Țigănești, where he placed an emergency call for assistance after becoming stranded.
At the time, rescue teams described the terrain as a remote and difficult-to-reach mountain area, compounded by extreme weather that included powerful winds, heavy snow and thick fog. Sebastian Marinescu, of the local mountain rescue service, previously told a national broadcaster that Smyth:
was disoriented, physically exhausted, and already showing signs of hypothermia
when the emergency call was received.
How did the search unfold over the following months?
The operation to locate Smyth involved specialist mountain rescue teams, a canine unit, drones and helicopters, reflecting the scale and difficulty of the terrain involved. Brașov Mountain Rescue said its personnel carried out daily searches of the area, according to a separate broadcaster account, covering previously flagged locations, rock walls, grates and other hard-to-access sectors, though these efforts had repeatedly come up empty.
Search progress was hampered on multiple occasions by hazardous mountain conditions. Coverage from a regional broadcaster reported in December 2025 that heavy snowfall and avalanche risk had forced rescuers to pause their efforts at times, underscoring how treacherous the region remained throughout the search.
What has the family said?
In a statement released after being informed of the discovery, Smyth's family expressed their grief and gratitude toward those who had assisted in the search:
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.
The family also acknowledged the efforts of local authorities and Smyth's university:
We would also like to thank Avon and Somerset police and University of Bristol, who have gone above and beyond to try and find George, and to support us as a family.
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.
We would appreciate privacy while we continue to come to terms with this loss.
What happens next?
Formal identification of the body must be completed before officials can proceed with any further steps, according to a national broadcaster's reporting. Once identification is confirmed, arrangements are expected to be made to return Smyth's remains to the United Kingdom, allowing his family to hold a funeral and begin their formal grieving process.
Key Facts
- George Smyth, 18, a geology student at the University of Bristol, went missing on 23 November 2025 while hiking in Romania's Bucegi Mountains.
- He made an emergency call near Țigănești after becoming disoriented and hypothermic in severe winter conditions.
- A body believed to be Smyth's was found in the Bucegi Mountain region on 15 August 2026, though formal identification is still pending.
- The search involved Salvamont mountain rescue, a canine unit, drones and helicopters, with daily searches continuing for months.
- Efforts will be made to repatriate Smyth's body to the UK once identification is confirmed.
