A Texas hiker has been found dead three days after going missing in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains, with his family believing he drowned after becoming caught in powerful hydraulic currents near a waterfall.
Sahil Jilani, a 24-year-old resident of Houston, died after disappearing on Oct. 5 — the same day that left his mother with an “overwhelming feeling that something was terribly wrong.” His family announced the tragedy through an online fundraiser.
“It is with heavy hearts and profound sorrow that we share the sudden, heartbreaking loss of our beloved brother, Sahil Jilani, and the hospitalization of our mother after learning she had lost her precious son, our little angel and most beautiful gift,” the fundraiser stated.
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Loved ones grew concerned when Jilani failed to check in for several hours and his location-sharing stopped in an area with no cell service.
“We were advised to be patient, as hikers and campers frequently lose contact in areas without network coverage,” wrote Jilani’s sister Asma Jilani Bustamante who organized the fundraiser. “But as the hours passed, our fear grew, and we continued requesting help. Sahil knew how much his silence and unavailable location would worry us.”
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After he had been missing for 72 hours, Jilani’s car was discovered in a parking lot, with his phone, keys and clothes later recovered near the falls. The following day, dive teams pulled his body from the waters at Abrams Falls.
Family members believe Jilani drowned after becoming trapped in powerful water currents.
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“Waterfalls are breathtakingly beautiful, and many visitors naturally want to stand beneath them and feel the pressure of the falling water,” the family said. “What many don’t realize is that Abrams Falls drops approximately 25 feet into a deep pool of water where hydraulic currents can pull a person underwater and trap them in recirculating water, making escape extremely difficult, even for experienced swimmers.”
An official cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
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Jilani had recently become an uncle and was “beyond excited to spoil his little niece with gifts and teach her mixed martial arts and self-defense, sharing his passion for fitness,” Bustamante said.
National Park Service (NPS) officials warn that the Smoky Mountains contain narrow roads, blind curves, and steep drop-offs. Additionally, the park does not feature any lifeguarded swimming areas.
“Swimming and tubing are not recommended,” the NPS stated. “Additionally, never try to climb to the top of a waterfall. The rocks are coated with slippery algae, and several hikers have fallen and been seriously injured or killed.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the National Park Service for further comment.
