A 24-year-old Texas man was found dead at Great Smoky Mountains National Park last Thursday, three days after he was reported missing during a hiking trip.

Sahil Jilani, of Houston, went missing Monday. His family said he had gone hours without checking in, while his phone’s location-sharing feature was not working because he was in an area without cellular service.

Authorities found Jilani’s vehicle at the Abrams Falls parking lot on Wednesday. Investigators later located his clothes, keys, and cellphone near the waterfall before recovering his body the following day.

Jilani’s family fears he drowned after becoming caught in dangerous currents beneath the falls, although officials have not confirmed his cause of death. Abrams Falls drops approximately 25 feet into a deep pool, where powerful hydraulic currents can pull swimmers underwater and trap them in circulating water, making escape difficult even for experienced swimmers, according to the family.

Jilani’s sister, Asma Jilani Bustamante, described him as a “pure, kind, generous soul.” She said he wanted to help his mother retire and assist his father with dental procedures. Jilani had also recently become an uncle and looked forward to spending time with his niece and teaching her martial arts.

His siblings said their mother was hospitalized after losing her son.

The tragedy underscores the risks hikers can face in the Great Smoky Mountains, where changing conditions, hazardous terrain, and limited cell service can complicate outdoor excursions and emergency response.

National Park Service figures show that 10 people died in the Great Smoky Mountains last year. Park officials warn visitors to stay away from waterfall edges, which can be extremely slippery, and to exercise caution on narrow mountain roads with blind curves and steep drop-offs.

Officials also urge hikers to research planned routes and activities before setting out and to consider carrying alternative communication devices because cellular coverage throughout the park is extremely limited.