A 24-year-old Texas hiker has been found dead at Abrams Falls in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park, three days after he was reported missing.
Sahil Jilani, from Houston, was last seen at the Riverstone Campground in Townsend at about 8pm on Monday, October 5, according to park officials. His vehicle was later found at the Abrams Falls trailhead, where a search operation was launched.
Jilani’s phone, keys and clothing were subsequently recovered near the waterfall. Dive teams found his body in the water the following day, his family said.
Relatives believe he drowned after becoming caught in powerful currents beneath the falls. An official cause of death has not been released.
Jilani’s sister, Asma Jilani Bustamante, said the family became alarmed when he failed to make contact and his location-sharing stopped in an area with limited mobile phone coverage.
In a fundraising appeal, the family said Jilani’s mother was hospitalised after learning of her son’s death. They described him as a devoted brother who had recently become an uncle and had been looking forward to spending time with his niece.
Abrams Falls warning issued by park officials
Abrams Falls is reached by a five-mile round trip trail in the Cades Cove area of the park. The waterfall drops about 25ft into a deep pool, according to the National Park Service.
The agency warns visitors against swimming or tubing in the area, saying the water can contain dangerous undertows. It also advises people never to climb to the top of a waterfall, where slippery rocks have contributed to serious injuries and deaths.
“Swimming and tubing are not recommended,” the National Park Service said in its safety guidance. It added that the park has no lifeguarded swimming areas.
Jilani’s family said the force of the water can create recirculating currents capable of pulling people beneath the surface, making escape difficult even for strong swimmers.
