Cops give major update in search for missing Brit actor Julian Sands

HIGH winds have again grounded helicopters searching mountains for British actor Julian Sands — and delayed a high-tech bid to pinpoint him.

Sands, 65, went missing two weeks ago while hiking in the Baldy Bowl area of California’s San Gabriel peaks.

Air and ground searches have been hampered by bad weather.

But rescuers were hoping to zero in on his location using technology that can detect electronic devices and credit cards.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department tweeted: “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 this can pinpoint an area where we can focus our search efforts.”

Sands’ family have praised the “heroic” search efforts and said they were “deeply touched” by the support they had received.

Yorkshire-born Sands, a father of three, moved to Los Angeles in 2020.

His 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.

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.