Search resumes in Romania for missing Shropshire teen after avalanche concerns
The search for missing Shropshire teenager, George Smyth, resumed on Thursday after efforts were called off because of an avalanche risk.
George Smyth, 18, a University of Bristol student from the Newport area, was reported missing while hiking in mountains near Brasov in Transylvania on the evening of Sunday, November 23.
For the last three days, avalanche risks and "difficult" weather conditions have halted search efforts, but rescue teams from Brasov County Salvamont Service resumed the search on Thursday morning.
The organisation said George's family was in Romania and assisting to reconstruct his route "as accurately as possible".
The teen, who has been described by his family as "smart, loving and adventurous", was last recorded as reaching the Tiganesti valley, where he reportedly contacted the 112 emergency line requesting assistance due to exhaustion and hypothermia.
Mountain rescuers then advised George to continue moving along the marked trail he was on in a bid to keep him moving and avoid the rapid loss of body heat in "blizzard conditions".
An update on social media stated that a backpack with equipment had been found during the search and subsequently handed to police.
In a translated post on social media, a spokesperson for rescue organisation Salvamont Brasov said: "Last night, the mountain rescuers climbed into the Bucegi Mountains and stayed overnight at Cabana Malaiesti so they could intervene from the earliest hours of the morning.
"A team of 17 mountain rescuers from the Brașov County Salvamont Service resumed the search this morning in the Valea Tiganesti area, with their work made more difficult by the layer of fresh snow.
"Although the weather has been difficult in recent days, the rescuers decided to make a new effort to continue the search operations.
"Contrary to some information circulating online, at this point there is no indication that the missing person intended to head toward Bran Castle."