Body found in Romania believed to be missing British student

A body found in the Romanian mountains is believed to be George Smyth, an 18-year-old geology student from the University of Bristol who went missing while hiking in November.

Smyth disappeared while walking in the Bucegi Mountains near the village of Bran. According to rescue reports, he had traveled from Poiana Brașov toward Bran and reached the Țigănești area, where he made an emergency call reporting exhaustion and hypothermia. Rescuers noted he was in a highly isolated, difficult-to-access area facing severe weather, including heavy snowfall and dense fog.

Following a months-long search involving canine teams, drones, and helicopters, parts of a human skeleton were discovered by shepherds. Avon and Somerset Police stated that the body found contained identification documents believed to belong to Mr. Smyth. His family expressed they are “devastated by George’s death” and thanked the Salvamont mountain rescue service for their efforts under dangerous conditions. Efforts will be made to return his body to Bristol following formal identification.