It's been 11 days since the actor Julian Sands, went missing in the California mountains, but his family isn't giving up hope. They thanked the search team for their relentless and heroic efforts despite the poor weather on the trail where eyewitnesses last saw Sands.
Search for Julian Sands Continues as Family Prays for His Safe Return
Getty | David Livingston
Lost In The Mountains
The 65-year-old British actor and another hiker went missing on the Mount Baldy hiking trail on January 13 following a string of bad weather complaints in the area.
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Heartfelt Thanks To The Sheriff's Department
Sands' family released a joint statement with his brother saying he believes his sibling is still alive. The statement released on Twitter reads,
"Our heartfelt thanks to the compassionate members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department who are coordinating the search for our beloved Julian."
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Thanks To The Search Team
The statement also acknowledged other search team members who were working in horrible weather to find Sands and the second hiker. The family can't thank the public enough for solidarity in this tenuous time.
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Unsplash | Neil Mark Thomas
When the Sheriff's department first learned of Sands' predicament, it broke out a rescue team but, couldn't get far due to the dangerous weather on the mountain. The team retreated but switched to aerial search using drones to continue its rescue mission.
The Mountain Takes Another Person
Flickr | chihuahua^_^
Sands' isn't the only person lost to the notorious mountain and the authorities warn hikers to stay away until the weather eases up.
The Second Missing Person Revealed
The Sheriff's department promised to continue its search using every available resource. It released the name of the second missing hiker who's also a senior - an L.A. man, Jin Chung, 75.
Chung's Last Sighting
Witnesses last saw Chung at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday on his way to the trail with his two friends. They planned to meet at the mountain's foot by 2:00 p.m., but only the other two arrived at the rendezvous.
Ground Search Ensues
Unsplash | Geoffrey Moffett
With the fluctuating weather, the Sheriff's department noted that the aerial search used in Sands' search stopped as the high wind made it difficult for helicopters to navigate the air. Instead, it dispatched teams on foot to search the area using infrared devices.
No Hiking Zone
The Southern California storms haven't stopped and have claimed several lives in the past two weeks. The L.A. Times reported at least 22 people were killed in the natural disaster, from getting trapped in their cars to slipping and falling on hiking trails.
It's best to avoid the mountains for now, according to the Sheriff's department.
