British teen missing near 'Dracula's Castle' in Romania, search intensifies: Here's what we know

The search for the missing British teen, who disappeared while solo hiking in a Romanian mountain range on November 23, 2025, has intensified.

The 18-year-old boy George Smyth, who is a university student at Bristol, was hiking in the Bucegi Mountains when he rang mountain rescue services in distress, as reported by People.

Some believe he was heading to Bran Castle—a spot identified as “Dracula’s castle” to tourists. But not actually linked to the main character of Bram Stoker’s famous novel.

What did George Smyth say in his last call?

In his last emergency call he made to the mountain rescue staff, he said "he was in a “very isolated and hard-to-access mountain area” amid “extremely severe” weather conditions, including wind, snow, and fog,” quoting a source as reported by BBC.

On the other hand, Smyth mo, Jo told us "he had kept this trip from us so we would not worry about him."

So far the rescue efforts have only recovered the teen’s backpack, which was located within hours in the area where he made his call, but now the rescue operation has entered into its 10th day, with no further trace of him.

On November 28, Salvamont Brasov, another rescue service, posted George’s picture on their Facebook page.

The post read: “The family asks us to share the photo of George, the person missing since Sunday evening in the Bucegi Mountains.”

On Saturday last week, the rescue service shared another post, updating the search and rescue operation “More than 20 mountain rescuers had been mobilized and were searching in several areas, as well as drones, helicopters, and canine units.”

“Unfortunately these efforts have not led to the identification of relevant new information so far,” the statement said.

For context, Bran Castle is one of those places where folklore clings to the walls.

Romania’s Bucegi range has swallowed hikers before, with some being found quickly, while others are found months later, and some are never found.

The castle in Bran became famous as “Dracula’s Castle” due to its Gothic architecture, even though the fictional vampire and his historical inspiration, Vlad the Impaler, had no real connection to it.

George Smyth’s disappearance carries none of the romance, only the

survives because it is unsolved, unknowable. George Smyth’s disappearance holds no romantic mystery—only the heavy reality of a family waiting for news that never arrives.