Strong winds ground helicopters hunting for Brit actor Julian Sands who went missing while hiking on Mount Baldy as search enters third week

• Julian Sands was reported missing on January 13 in the Baldy Bowl area 
• Rescuers searching for Julian had to ground helicopters due to strong winds 

Strong winds in California have again grounded helicopters in the search for a British actor who disappeared while hiking.

Julian Sands, 65, was reported missing on a hiking trip in the Baldy Bowl area of the San Gabriel mountains on January 13 and has not been seen for 14 days, as temperatures in the area hover just above the freezing mark. 

Since then, rescue teams have scoured for clues to the father-of-three’s whereabouts, but only his car has been found close to where he disappeared.

Now, rescuers searching for Julian have had to ground their helicopters due to strong winds. 

Julian Sands, 65, (pictured) was reported missing on a hiking trip in the Baldy Bowl area of the San Gabriel mountains and has not been seen for 14 days, as temperatures in the area hover just above the freezing mark

Pictured: Sands traversing the stunning 14,783ft Alpine peak while wearing a helmet and crampons, using ropes and with a rucksack strapped to his back

Rescuers have been hampered by storms in the region, which already claimed the life of an experienced hiker earlier this month.

Aerial efforts resumed briefly on Wednesday, with authorities using new technology that can detect electronic devices and credit cards.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said it was ‘hopeful’ that the technology would be able to more accurately pinpoint an area on which to focus efforts.

But a spokesperson for the department said strong winds had meant air searches could not be continued.

The department previously said that fresh searches on higher ground for Sands were still not possible due to poor conditions.

General views of the rocky snow-swept area in Angeles National Forest where British actor Julian Sands has been missing since January 13 

JULIAN SANDS: FROM THE YORKSHIRE DALES TO THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF LOS ANGELES

Sands starred alongside Helena Bonham Carter in A Room With A View (1986)

Julian Sands was born in Otley, Yorkshire, in 1958 and moved to Los Angeles in 2020.

His breakout role came as the free-spirited George in the period drama A Room With A View, in which he starred opposite Helena Bonham Carter.

He later made the move to the horror genre, featuring in films such as Leaving Las Vegas, Warlock and Arachnophobia, as well as parts on television.

More recently he played the chief medical officer in the 2021 Jack Lowden and Peter Capaldi-led drama Benediction.

From 1984 to 1987 Sands was married to future Evening Standard and Today editor Sarah Sands, with whom he has a son. He also has two daughters with journalist Evgenia Citkowitz, whom he married in 1990.

On Wednesday, the sheriff’s department tweeted: ‘The search for Julian Sands continues by air only.

‘The California Highway Patrol – Valley Division Air Ops from Auburn, California, is currently assisting us in the search using a Recco device.

‘Recco technology can detect Recco reflective material, electronics, and in some cases, credit cards.

‘We are hopeful our partners, Officers Hertzell & Calcutt, can pinpoint an area where we can focus our search efforts, and we thank them for their assistance.’

Infrared devices have also been used by authorities previously, but to no effect.

Julian’s family previously praised the ‘heroic’ efforts of Californian authorities conducting the search efforts.

In a statement, also shared by the sheriff’s department, his family said they were ‘deeply touched’ by the support they had received in the days since his disappearance.

Earlier this week, Sands’ brother Nick said he believes in heart ‘he had gone’. 

But financial adviser Nick, who grew up with Julian and their single mother near the village of Gargrave, Yorkshire, said he still hoped his brother would prove his growing fears wrong and make it home alive.

He said: ‘He has not yet been declared missing, presumed dead, but I know in my heart that he has gone. Julian liked to say, “I have never had a holiday but I do rest occasionally” – well he’s resting now in a place he would truly approve of.

‘However sibling rivalry being what it is, it would be just like him to walk out of there and prove me wrong.’

Julian made his home in Los Angeles with his wife Evgenia Citkowitz, 59, after starring in critically acclaimed films throughout the 80s and 90s.

And Mr Sands said his brother had been particularly fond of hiking the Baldy mountain range after picking up a love of walking in the Yorkshire Dales as a youngster.

Julian made his home in Los Angeles with his wife Evgenia Citkowitz, 59, (pictured together) after starring in critically acclaimed films throughout the 80s and 90s

He added: ‘When in LA, the Mt Baldy mountain range was his favorite place, he would go there as often as he could.

‘It was the hills and mountains where Julian really revived, hiking in England’s Yorkshire Dales leading on to him climbing iconic mountains like the Matterhorn and the Eiger, technically challenging but high reward.

‘When he recently walked the full length of the Pennine Way, he took just a small tent and averaged over 30 miles a day, not bad for a guy over 60.

‘Last year, like most years, he came to Gargrave on three occasions every time walking up Sharphaw to view Gargrave and the beauty of the Craven Fault, also, not a bad effort for a guy who lives in Hollywood.’

Mr Sands said despite living in the US, Julian would make frequent trips back to Gargrave to visit his brothers and family.

And though Julian won a scholarship to a private school and had a Hollywood film career, he said his brother had remained humble as a ‘jobbing’ actor.

He added: ‘After attending the London School of Speech and Drama he went on to act in over 70 feature films and more than 50 television shows. 

‘Over the last 10 years he has travelled the world doing his one-man show on the poetry of Harold Pinter, while more recently his show on Keats and Shelley has had rave reviews.

‘His films and parts were many and varied some to critical acclaim and some absolutely awful. Julian would say to me, “that’s the life of a jobbing actor, can’t be too proud”.’

Julian’s breakout role came in the period drama A Room With A View, in which he starred opposite Helena Bonham Carter, though he later moved to the horror genre, featuring in films such as Warlock and Arachnophobia.

More recently he played the chief medical officer in the 2021 Jack Lowden and Peter Capaldi-led drama Benediction.

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