Student on hiking trip missing after call for help

A UNIVERSITY of Bristol student has vanished during a hiking trip following a distressing call in which he reported feeling exhausted and suffering from hypothermia.

- MOLLY SEAMAN

Jo, the mother of 18-year-old George Smyth, has travelled to Romania upon hearing that her son, who was trekking in the Bucegi Mountains of the country, reached out to the 112 emergency service.

George has been missing since the evening of November 23, with the Salvamont Brasov rescue service issuing an alert on November 28.

Speaking to local media outlet Observator News, his mother said: “He left his college in the UK on Sunday, without telling us, to go hiking alone.

“His phone last had a signal in an isolated area in the mountains. He made a heart-wrenching call to 112 on Sunday evening.

“His backpack was found at the same location from where he called for help. We flew to Romania immediately and are trying to support the search teams as best we can.”