The search for a British student who went missing while hiking alone in the Romanian mountains has reached its 10th day.

University of Bristol student George Smyth, 18, was hiking in the Bucegi Mountains when he called the mountain rescue service in distress on November 23. People reported.

Smyth told search and rescue personnel over the phone that he was suffering from hypothermia and exhaustion.

It is believed that he headed towards Bran Castle — which is advertised to tourists as “Dracula’s Castle”, but is actually not related to the main character of Bram Stoker’s famous novel.

The mountain rescuers started searching in the following days. They found his backpack, which contained equipment and supplies, in the area where he called, according to the British newspaper The Times.

On Saturday, Salvamont Bras’ search and rescue department wrote on Facebook that more than 20 mountain rescuers had been mobilized to search several areas, as well as drones, helicopters and dog units, according to BBC.

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

Days earlier, at the request of his family, Salvamont Brasov shared a photo by Smythwith a request that anyone with information come forward.

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His mother, Jo Smyth, told Romania’s Antena1 television: “We hope and pray that somehow he survived this, against all odds, because the thought of life without him is unbearable.”

She described her son as “a very bright, loving and adventurous young man.”

Smyth decided to go hiking alone without notifying his family, she added, explaining that his phone had last sent a signal from a remote, mountainous location.

Local mountain rescuer Sebastian Marinescu told the BBC that Smyth was “disoriented” and “physically exhausted” when he received the call, and that he had arrived from an area where strong winds, heavy snow and thick fog were blowing.

He was told to go back and follow the route he was on and to keep moving so he wouldn’t fall asleep from hypothermia.

“We still cannot fully understand why he continued forward, especially since it gets dark around 5pm at this time of year,” Marinescu said.

Avalanche risk halted the search after a week, he continued.

“We cannot fight nature, and until the weather allows safe access, we cannot advance the search without risking the lives of our rescuers,” adding that the service will do everything it can to bring the teenager home.

A spokesman for the University of Bristol said it was aware that one of its students had gone missing.

“We have been notified that one of our students has been reported missing after traveling to Romania on his own to go hiking,” they said.

“We are deeply concerned for his well-being and are in close contact with his family.

“Our thoughts are with them as they await any news.”

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