Houston Hiker Sahil Jilani Found Dead at Abrams Falls, Where Park Warns of Slippery Rocks and Deadly Undertow

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Official findings on how he died are still pending. His family said they believe he drowned after being caught in powerful currents, but authorities had not released a cause of death as of Oct. 12.

The death puts renewed attention on a popular Cades Cove hike where the park’s own guidance warns visitors away from the water.

Park officials said Jilani was last seen around 8 p.m. on Oct. 5 at Riverstone Campground in Townsend, Tennessee. On Oct. 7, after his vehicle was found at the Abrams Falls trailhead, the park asked the public for tips, WLOS reported.

The next day, divers found his body in the water at Abrams Falls, according to his family. His phone, keys, and clothes were also recovered near the falls, WVLT reported.

His sister, Asma Jilani Bustamante, said their mother has been hospitalized after learning of his death. The family is raising money through GoFundMe to bring him home to Houston and to cover their mother’s medical bills, funeral costs, and grief counseling, WBRC reported.

The National Park Service’s Abrams Falls hiking page states that “swimming is strongly discouraged due to slippery rocks and a deadly undertow.” The 5-mile round-trip trail leads to a waterfall about 20 to 25 feet high, according to park pages, that pours into a deep pool. The trailhead sits roughly halfway around the one-way Cades Cove Loop Road.

A separate park page on the Abrams Falls trail estimates three to four hours for the round trip and warns that hikers who start late in the afternoon may have to return in the dark. It advises sturdy hiking shoes, not sandals or flip-flops, and says mist and algae make the rocks near the falls slippery. Several people have fallen to their deaths, and many others have been seriously injured, climbing on rocks near waterfalls or along riverbanks, the park says.

The danger is not the height of the falls. The park notes that the large volume of water rushing over the falls more than makes up for its lack of height. This summer, crews replaced aging footlog bridges and added stairs at a steep, slick rock section near the falls, with work expected to finish by Oct. 1.

Bustamante said the family sensed trouble almost immediately because Jilani never went hours without checking in. She said they asked rangers for a welfare check the next day but were told hikers often lose service. “We kept requesting help as our fear grew,” she said.

That account is the family’s, and the park had not publicly responded to it in the reports reviewed. It does point to a common problem in remote parks, where long stretches without cell service can make a silent phone seem routine.

“Beauty can turn deadly in an instant,” Bustamante said. She urged visitors to heed warning signs, share travel plans, and consider carrying a satellite communication device.

The park’s guidance is direct: stay off the rocks near the falls, do not swim in the pool, and closely supervise children at all times. Currents below a waterfall can be dangerous even when the surface looks calm.

Before heading out, hikers can tell someone their route and expected return time, carry a charged phone and a backup battery, and consider a satellite messenger for areas without service. If someone is missing or in trouble, call 911 or park dispatch right away rather than waiting for a phone to reconnect. Families who cannot reach a hiker should share specific details, including the trailhead and planned route, to help rangers focus a search.

MedicalDaily will update this story if a cause of death is released or the park responds to the family’s account.

What happened to Sahil Jilani? The 24-year-old Houston man was last seen Oct. 5 and was later found dead in the water at Abrams Falls, according to his family.

What caused his death? Official findings are pending. His family believes he drowned in strong currents, but authorities have not released a cause.

Is swimming allowed at Abrams Falls? The park strongly discourages swimming because of slippery rocks and a deadly undertow.

Why are waterfall rocks so dangerous? Mist and algae make them slick, and the park says several people have died after falling from rocks near waterfalls.

How can hikers prepare for no cell service? Share your plans, carry a backup battery, and consider a satellite communication device in remote areas.

What should I do if a hiker is overdue? Contact 911 or park dispatch promptly and share the trailhead, route, and expected return time.