Authorities Resume Search for ‘Flight Only’ Missing Actor: NPR

British actor Julian Sands, pictured here at the 2015 Academy Awards, disappeared in the San Gabriel Mountains nearly two weeks ago.

John Salangsang/John Salangsang/Invision/Associated Press

Hide caption

Switch caption

John Salangsang/John Salangsang/Invision/Associated Press

British actor Julian Sands, pictured here at the 2015 Academy Awards, disappeared in the San Gabriel Mountains nearly two weeks ago.

John Salangsang/John Salangsang/Invision/Associated Press

Police said they have changed tactics in the search for actor Julian Sands, who went missing 13 days ago in the San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California.

Sands, who is 65 years old, is the star of several Academy Award nominated films including A room with a viewdisappeared on January 13 while walking around snow-capped Baldy Mountain.

Search and rescue teams began searching for Sands about a mile southwest of the mountaintop after cell phone sounds indicated he was on a known trail. But high winds and avalanche hazards halted efforts.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that the search will continue “by air only” using RECCO technology, which can detect “reflective materials, electronics and, in some cases, credit cards.”

The change in approach came just one day after crews managed to locate another missing park. Jin Chung, a 75-year-old man from Los Angeles, was found one day after he was reported missing; suffered leg and weather injuries, said the police.

Although located only about 40 miles northeast of Los Angeles, Mount Baldy is known for relatively cold and rainy winters. Nighttime temperatures in the region have dropped As low as 29 degrees last week.

Search and rescue teams have flown 233 missions since 2017, resulting in eight deaths, on Mount Baldy, the highest peak among the San Gabriel Mountains.

Richard Vogel/AP

Hide caption

Switch caption

Richard Vogel/AP

Search and rescue teams have flown 233 missions since 2017, resulting in eight deaths, on Mount Baldy, the highest peak among the San Gabriel Mountains.

Richard Vogel/AP

“Exposure to the elements and falls contribute to Mount Bali’s increased mortality rate,” Police wrote in a search update earlier this week. Search and rescue teams have flown 233 missions on Mount Baldy since 2017, resulting in eight deaths.

A member of a search-and-rescue crew was among those who perished on the mountain, prompting former Mayor John McMahon to meet with members of Congress about increased weather shutdowns in 2019.

Along with the surrounding San Gabriel region, Mount Baldy is unincorporated, and technically falls under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Agriculture and Forest Service.

The sheriff of neighboring San Bernardino County indicated in a statement that he could not lend more resources to the search for sand because of the USFS’ “staffing, resource, and funding shortfalls.”

The office said it was working with lawmakers to try to secure more funding for the USFS in order to implement a permit process for local hikers and promote wildlife education.

Sands representatives did not immediately respond to NPR’s request for more information.

The English-born actor based in North Hollywood is best known for starring in the 1985 British romantic film A room with a view.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he held major roles in films such as the magicianAnd ArachnophobiaAnd Leaving Las Vegas, Helena boxing And killing fields.

In recent years, he has gone on to appear in dozens of small TV roles and feature films spanning from low budget favorites to critically acclaimed hits.

when asked in 2020 by Watchman When he was at his happiest, Sands didn’t talk about acting, but about recreating.

His reply was: “Near a mountain peak on a glorious cold morning.”