The family of Julian Sands has said that they are "deeply touched" by the support they have received as the search for the British actor continues.
Julian, 65, went missing in California whilst on a hiking trip and was last seen 11 days ago.
In a statement, Julian's family praised the "heroic" efforts of the Californian authorities who have been tirelessly tracing the actor.
“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,” the statement read.
“We are deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support.”
He was first reported missing on January 13 in the Baldy Bowl area of the San Gabriel mountains in southern California.
The statement went on to list various organisations involved in the search, which included local and out-of-county forces, as well as specialised canine and cave teams.
In a message sharing the statement, the sheriff’s department added: “As we enter day 11 of the search for Julian Sands on Mt. Baldy, we are reminded of the sheer determination & selflessness of all of the people who have aided in this search.
“We will continue to utilize the resources available to us.”
On Monday a spokesperson for the sheriff’s department told the PA news agency that conditions were still too dangerous for ground crews to operate, and that searches would be conducted by helicopter only.
It comes after federal agencies joined efforts to find Julian, using mobile phone forensics to help pinpoint the actor’s location.
It was previously revealed that pings from Sands’ phone appeared to show he had been on the move heading further into the mountainous area of Baldy Bowl on the day he was reported missing.
The department also told PA previously that there was still “no hard deadline” and “no date set” for calling off efforts – and the incident is still being classified as a search and rescue operation.
Last week it had urged hikers to “think twice and heed warnings”, saying its search and rescue teams had responded to 14 calls on Mount Baldy and in the surrounding area within four weeks.
Sands was born in Yorkshire 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.
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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, who he shares a son. He also has two daughters with journalist Evgenia Citkowitz, who he married in 1990.
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