Second Hiker Found in Area Where Julian Sands Went Missing

Julian Sands attends The BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in Los Angeles on Jan. 4, 2020. (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

A 75-year-old hiker found by rescuers in California was lost on the same snow-covered mountain where actor Julian Sands is believed to have gone missing.

Jin Chung, of North Hollywood, was photographed being loaded into an ambulance on Jan. 24 by reporters.

According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, he had a leg injury and some weather-related injuries but was able to walk with assistance and was taken to a hospital. His condition was unknown at the time.

The sheriff’s department launched the search after Chung failed to return from a hike on Mount Baldy, which stands at 10,064 feet (3,068 meters).

Authorities said Chung carpooled to the mountain with two others and planned to meet them at the vehicle at 2 p.m., but he did not return. Over the weekend, rescuers continued their unsuccessful search for Sands on Mount Baldy, according to the sheriff’s department.

Extensive Search For Actor

Sands, 65, went missing while hiking on Jan. 13. Crews began searching for him on the highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains, about 40 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles.

“The sheriff’s department is closing in on the second full week of the search for missing hiker, Julian Sands. Numerous ground and air search efforts have taken place. As of this time, Mr. Sands has not been found and no evidence of his current location has been discovered.

“The search will continue, weather, and ground conditions permitting,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement released on Jan. 24.

“The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Search and Rescue (SAR) teams are comprised of highly trained citizen volunteers, who take on personal risk to help rescue lost and injured hikers.”

Storms have dumped heavy snow and ice on the mountain, and searches have been hampered by the threat of avalanches and bad weather, including strong winds. Mountain conditions are described as extremely dangerous by authorities.

In recent weeks, two hikers have died. One person was thrown at least 500 feet (152 meters) down an icy slope.

Goodbyes Said

The actor’s brother, Nick Sands, who lives in North Yorkshire, England, said he has already said his “goodbyes,” according to the BBC’s report.

“I have come to terms with the fact he’s gone and for me, that’s how I’ve dealt with it,” Nick Sands said. The financial adviser said he would rather think his brother had passed away than imagine him lying injured on the mountainside.

The Sands family issued a brief statement to thank Southern California law enforcement officials for their continued efforts, as The Epoch Times previously reported.

“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,” Sands’ family wrote.

“We are deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support,” they added.

The sheriff’s department replied to the statement saying: “We are reminded of the sheer determination and selflessness of all of the people who have aided in this search. We will continue to utilize the resources available to us.”

Reported Missing

On Jan. 13, Sands’ author wife Evgenia Citkowitz filed a missing person’s report.

Large-scale search efforts were started, but they have been significantly hampered by the adverse weather conditions that increased soon after started.

James Ivory’s 1985 British period romance “A Room With a View” starred Sands and Helena Bonham Carter and was one of Sands’s most well-known works. He also played pivotal roles in the films “Warlock” in 1989, “Arachnophobia” in 1990, “Naked Lunch” in 1991, “Boxing Helena” in 1993, and “Leaving Las Vegas” in 1995.

The sheriff’s office warned that many hikers, regardless of their experience level, underestimate the steep terrain, and unpredictable weather that can bring high winds and cause hazards for hikers.

When combined, these circumstances and conditions place the hiker, SAR volunteers, and sheriff’s personnel at risk during these dangerous search and rescue missions.

Regardless of precautions taken by hikers, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department highly recommends avoiding hazardous mountainous areas, such as Mount Baldy, at this time.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.