Julian Sands: Who is the Hollywood British actor missing in California?
Authorities in California say the search for Julian Sands will continue by air only.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department released an update on Wednesday evening US time to say helicopters continued to search the San Gabriel Mountains for any sign of the missing British actor.
The California Highway Patrol’s Valley Division Air Ops has been brought in to assist the search using a device that can detect reflective material and in some cases credit cards, the sheriff’s office said.
Meanwhile, Julian Sands’ brother Nick has said that he knows “in my heart” that his sibling is no longer alive, as the search for the missing British actor approached its second week.
“However sibling rivalry being what it is, it would be just like him to walk out of there and prove me wrong,” Nick said in comments to his his local Yorkshire paper, the Craven Herald.
Sands was reported missing on 13 January, sparking a major search and rescue effort led by the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office.
On Tuesday, an official statement from the sheriff’s office said that fresh searches on higher ground for Sands are still not possible due to poor conditions.
Last week, Sands’ family released the last known images of him mountaineering, telling The Independent: “This is how he would love to be seen, doing what he loved best – a heroic mountaineer.”
RECAP: Ground search for Julian Sands suspended
The search for missing actor Julian Sands in California’s San Gabriel Mountains is currently only being conducted by the air, police say.
As the effort to find Sands neared its second week, The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said on Wednesday evening that ground searches in higher areas were no longer possible due to poor local weather conditions.
Police shared pictures of the helicopters still being used in the aerial search and said the California Highway Patrol’s Valley Division Air Ops has been brought in to assist.
Searchers are using a RECCO device – a radar system that can detect corresponding RECCO reflectors worn by mountaineers on their clothing and bags, as well as other reflective surfaces such as electronics and even sometimes credit cards.
“We are hopeful our [California Highway Patrol] partners, Officers Hertzell & Calcutt, can pinpoint an area where we can focus our search efforts, and we thank them for their assistance,” the latest police update read, adding that “additional information will be released when it becomes available”.
Sands, 65, was hiking in the Baldy Bowl area of the San Gabriel Mountains, north of Los Angeles, when he went missing on 13 January. He has not been heard from since.
Adam Withnall26 January 2023 06:23
Another message of concern shared on social media.
The “other guy” mentioned refers to 75-year-old hiker Jin Chung, who was found safe on Tuesday having gone missing in the mountains days before.
Louis Chilton26 January 2023 11:41
ICYMI: Earlier this week, Sands’ family shared a public statement, amid the continuing search.
“Our heartfelt thanks to the compassionate members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department who are coordinating the search for our beloved Julian, not least the heroic search teams listed below who are braving difficult conditions on the ground and in the air to bring Julian home,” it read.
“We are deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support.”
Louis Chilton26 January 2023 10:02
People have continued to share messages of hope and concern on social media, as we approach the two-week mark since Sands was reported missing.
“My heart is very heavy and I want to still hope that he will be found,” writes @LianeMoonRaven, who shared their fond memory of meeting the actor…
Louis Chilton26 January 2023 08:25
Frances Fisher latest to send prayers
Titanic star Fisher shared her prayers in a reply to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s tweet update on Wednesday (25 January).
“Please pray for Julian,” the actor wrote in response to the news that the search for Sands would continue by air only.
Tom Murray26 January 2023 05:30
Credit card-detecting technology used in search for Sands
In an update shared Wednesday (25 January), authorities said they were using a Recco device to help trace Sands.
“Recco technology can detect Recco reflective material, electronics, and in some cases, credit cards,” they said.
Tom Murray26 January 2023 04:30
Who is Julian Sands?
Julian Sands: Who is the Hollywood British actor missing in California?
Tom Murray26 January 2023 03:30
Hiker who went missing in the same mountain where Sands is missing has been found
A 75-year-old man who went missing at around 6 am on Sunday, was found safe Tuesday afternoon.
Jin Chung of North Hollywood suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was able to walk off Mt Baldy with rescuers, ABC7 reported.
Tom Murray26 January 2023 02:30
How long will the search continue?
US authorities previously said there is “no hard deadline” for calling off the search for Julian Sands.
Today (25 January) marks the 12th day since Sands’ went missing.
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s department said that the incident was still being classified as a search and rescue operation.
“We will schedule another ground search when the weather improves, and it is safe for our ground crews,” a spokesperson from the department said.
Tom Murray26 January 2023 01:30
Timeline of Julian Sands’ disappearance
Here’s a quick updated refresher:
Operations to find actor Julian Sands step up as federal agencies join search (Ian West/PA)
(PA Archive)
Everything to know as a search and rescue team continues hunt to find British actor
Inga Parkel26 January 2023 00:30