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Body found in Romania believed to be missing British hiker
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
A body found in Romania is believed to be missing British hiker George Smyth, 18. The family's long wait for answers may finally be over.
Background
George Smyth, an 18-year-old geology student from Bristol, went missing in November last year while hiking in the Bucegi Mountains near Bran, Romania. He had called emergency services saying he was exhausted and suffering from hypothermia. A large-scale search operation was launched, and on August 15, 2026, a body was found during the search, believed to be his.
How it unfolded
- Nov 2025George Smyth went missing while hiking in the Bucegi Mountains near Bran, Romania. He called emergency services, reporting exhaustion and hypothermia.
- recentlyA large-scale search operation was launched in the Bucegi Mountains for the missing British tourist.
- Aug 15, 2026A body was found during the search, believed to be George Smyth. His family was notified by Avon and Somerset Police.
Who’s saying what
- Family
- The family thanked the mountain rescue team that 'worked tirelessly' and said 'the torture of waiting is finally over'.
- Police
- Police confirmed a body was found in the search for George Smyth, but formal identification is pending.
Still unverified
Formal identification of the body has not yet been confirmed; it is 'believed to be' George Smyth based on initial reports.