British actor Julian Sands was still on the move two days after he was reported missing, police in America have confirmed.
The dad-of-three, 65, has been missing for a week in an 'extremely dangerous' Californian mountain range where two people have died in recent weeks, with the search still ongoing with 'no hard deadline' to call off the bid to find the A Room With A View star.
Smallville star Julian has been confirmed as one of the two missing hikers in the San Gabriel Mountains in California, and was last seen on Friday January 13 in the Mount Baldy area of the range and his family haven't been in contact with him since then.
But police have now revealed they believe the Dexter actor was still on the move on Sunday thanks to phone pings obtained by officers.
A spokesperson for San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said: "On January 15, 2023, phone pings showed Sands to be heading to the Mount Baldy area.
"Additional phone pings from the cell provider were attempted but were unsuccessful, due to the lack of cell service and most likely cell phone power failure.
"A delayed ping through Sands’ Apple iPhone operating system, from January 14, 2023, provided a possible location on one of the trails leading to the summit of Mount Baldy. This area was checked by ground searchers and by helicopter.
"Ground and air searchers were unable to locate any evidence in this area that would assist in locating Mr. Sands. Because of avalanche risks and trail conditions, the ground crews were pulled off the mountain on Saturday evening.
"However, the search continues by helicopter and drones when the weather permits. Additional ground searches will be scheduled when the weather improves, and it is safe for our rescue crews."
The new information comes as Julian's three adult children join the desperate search to find their missing father.
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said the incident was still being classified as a search and rescue operation, though snow, sleet and fog was causing issues for any on-foot efforts from the team.
Visibility as of Thursday evening in the highest altitudes of Mount Baldy remained poor, but searches were planning to continue as and when conditions permitted.
A spokesperson from the department told the PA news agency: "We will schedule another ground search when the weather improves, and it is safe for our ground crews," adding there was "no hard deadline" for abandoning search efforts and "no date set".
Authorities still have hope the The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo actor will be found and Julian's friends and family are praying the star is safe - with one close friend describing him as "an adventurer in everything he did" on Wednesday.
"On Friday, January 13, at about 7:30 pm, a hiker, identified as 65-year-old Julian Sands of North Hollywood was reported missing in the Baldy Bowl area," a spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s department said, in a statement shared with the PA news agency in the early hours of Thursday morning.
"Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue crews responded and began a search. Because of avalanche risks and trail conditions, the ground crews were pulled off the mountain on Saturday evening.
"However, we continue to search by helicopter and drones when the weather permits."
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