A 24-year-old Texas man was found dead three days after disappearing during a hike in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park. His family believes he may have drowned at Abrams Falls.
Sahil Jilani of Houston vanished last Monday, prompting his mother to experience an “overwhelming feeling that something was terribly wrong,” according to a GoFundMe campaign created by the family.
Concern grew after Jilani went “hours without checking in” and his location-sharing signal stopped in a part of the park without cellular coverage.
Authorities discovered his vehicle at the Abrams Falls parking area on Wednesday. His phone, keys and clothing were later located near the waterfall.
Jilani’s body was recovered from the waterfall on Thursday. The pool below Abrams Falls is estimated to be between 20 and 25 feet deep.
Officials have not yet announced his cause of death. However, Jilani’s relatives believe he drowned after being pulled into powerful hydraulic currents beneath the falls.
“What many don’t realize [is that] Abrams Falls drops approximately 25 feet into a deep pool of water,” the family said. They explained that the force of the water can drag someone beneath the surface and hold them in circulating currents, making escape difficult—even for strong or experienced swimmers.
Jilani’s sister, Asma Jilani Bustamente, a former entertainment journalist, described him to WVLT as a “pure, kind, generous soul.” She said he had hoped to help his mother retire and pay for dental procedures for his father before his life was tragically cut short.
Bustamente said their mother was hospitalized “after losing her precious son.” The family, she added, is struggling with an “irreplaceable void” left by his death.
Jilani had recently become an uncle and was looking forward to spending time with his niece. He “couldn’t wait to spoil [her] and teach her martial arts,” his sister said.
The National Park Service reported that 10 people died in Great Smoky Mountains National Park last year.
Park officials caution that visitors face challenging conditions, including narrow mountain roads, blind turns and steep drop-offs. They also warn hikers about the serious dangers associated with climbing around waterfalls.
Visitors are encouraged to study their planned routes in advance and bring a backup means of communication, such as a personal locator beacon, because cell service throughout the Great Smoky Mountains is “extremely limited.”
Park safety guidance also urges hikers to stay away from waterfall edges, where wet surfaces can become “extremely slippery.”
