NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Great Smoky Mountains, TN, October 12, 2026: When 24-year-old Sahil Jilani stopped responding to his family while visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, his mother had an overwhelming feeling that something was wrong.
It was October 5, 2026. Sahil’s phone location was no longer available, and hours had passed without a message from him. His family knew that going so long without checking in was unlike him.
Three days later, their worst fears were confirmed. Search teams recovered Sahil’s body from the waters at Abrams Falls, a popular waterfall in the national park known for its dangerous underwater currents.
In a detailed account posted on GoFundMe, Sahil’s sister, Asma Jilani Bustamante, described the search and the young man’s plans for his family.
“Never underestimate a parent’s intuition. You know your loved ones best. Trust your instincts and act without delay,” she wrote.
According to Asma, the family contacted park rangers on October 6 to request a welfare check after Sahil stopped communicating. They were initially advised to be patient because hikers and campers frequently lose cellular service in remote areas.
But the family’s concern continued to grow.
On October 7, search teams located Sahil’s vehicle at the Abrams Falls parking lot. His phone, keys and clothing were subsequently found near the waterfall.
The following day, dive teams recovered his body from the water, bringing an approximately 72-hour search to an end.
“With extremely heavy hearts, we share the news that the search for Sahil has ended, and he has passed away,” Asma wrote in a Facebook post on October 9.
The family believes Sahil drowned after becoming caught in powerful hydraulic currents near the waterfall. However, they are awaiting official reports, and the circumstances of his death have not been conclusively established.
Abrams Falls, which drops approximately 25 feet into a deep pool, is among the scenic attractions in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But the National Park Service warns visitors against swimming near waterfalls because of dangerous currents and slippery rocks.
The currents beneath a waterfall can pull swimmers underwater and make escape extremely difficult, even for experienced swimmers.
“Being a strong swimmer does not make you immune to these dangers,” Asma wrote. “What appears beautiful and peaceful can turn deadly in the blink of an eye.”
Sahil’s family described him as a kind, thoughtful and generous young man who had already begun planning how to care for those he loved.
He hoped to help his mother retire within a few years, take over household financial responsibilities and help his father pay for dental procedures.
He had recently become an uncle and was excited about buying gifts for his little niece. Passionate about fitness, he also looked forward to teaching her mixed martial arts and self-defense.
“If you knew Sahil, you knew his pure, innocent soul. He was kind, thoughtful, generous, and always looking out for others,” his sister wrote.
“He had so many plans to care for those he loved. His absence leaves an irreplaceable void in our hearts.”
The tragedy has also taken a serious toll on the family. Sahil’s mother was hospitalized after learning of her son’s death.
Asma and her husband, Frank Bustamante, plan to assume the family responsibilities Sahil had hoped to take on, including bringing his mother into their home and providing for her future care.
The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with medical expenses, grief counseling, funeral and transportation costs, and other financial needs.
