HE NEEDS TO KNOW
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Actor Julian Sands was reported missing three years ago on January 13, 2023, after going on a trip to California.
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His remains were found on 24 June 2023, with his death confirmed three days later
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Sands, who was mourned by family and fans, was 65 at the time of his death.
Actor Julian Sands went missing while hiking Mount Baldy in Southern California three years ago on January 13, 2023. The search for the star ended in tragedy when he was confirmed dead five months later on June 27, 2023.
The British actor was best known for his roles in films such as A room with a view, Wizard and Arachnophobia. He had three children: a son, Henry, with ex-wife Sarah Sands, and daughters Natalya and Imogen, with wife Evgenia Citkowitz.
On January 13, 2023, Smallville the star was reported missing by Citkowitz after setting out to climb Mount Baldy in California. The place was Sands’ “favorite place” when he was in Los Angeles, as his brother Nick later said Craven Herald & Pioneer.
The search continued for more than five months before Sands’ remains were found on June 24, 2023, by a group of hikers.
So what exactly happened to the actor? Here’s everything you need to know about Julian Sands’ death, including what his family said about the hiking accident.
When did Julian Sands die?
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Julian Sands attends the re-opening of the Ferus Gallery on May 21, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.
The exact date of Sands’ death is unknown due to the time it took to find her body. He died between January 13, 2023, when he was reported missing, and June 24, 2023, when his remains were found. Authorities confirmed his death on June 27.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department warned of a dangerous situation for Mount Baldy hikers on their Facebook page just days after Sands’ disappearance on January 18.
“Due to strong winds, the snow has turned to ice, making hiking extremely dangerous,” the post said. “Teams responded to 14 rescue missions on Baldy Mountain and the surrounding area. These rescue missions were for lost, stranded and/or injured hikers.”
The department also noted that their rescue efforts were affected, stating, “Sheriff’s search and rescue efforts are often hampered by inclement weather, along with dangerous avalanche conditions.”
What was the cause of Julian Sands’ death?
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Julian Sands attends The Great British Film Reception on February 20, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
The actor’s official cause of death was ruled “undetermined” by the medical examiner, an information officer for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in San Bernardino, Calif., confirmed to PEOPLE on July 24, 2023.
According to the officer, the decision to rule Sands dead was a result of the deteriorated condition of his body.
“This is common when dealing with cases of this type,” the officer said.
While the location of Sands’ body in Goode Canyon might suggest a fall, the Los Angeles Times reported that he may have been an avalanche victim, injured or lost.
Where was Julian Sands’ body found?
AP Photo/Nick Ut
The snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains, with Mount Baldy the tallest peak on the left, seen from Chinatown near downtown Los Angeles.
Bill Dwyer and a group of other unnamed hikers found Sands in a flat area of Mount Baldy known as Goode Canyon.
They spotted him after first noticing his boots, trekking poles, a pile of clothes and a wallet containing his driver’s license.
“It was surreal,” Dwyer said later Los Angeles Times.
According to the newspaper, members of Sands’ search and rescue team previously searched the area after receiving a ping from the actor’s cell phone from a nearby ridge on the Baldy Bowl trail.
“If they had gone another 600 meters down, they might have found him,” search team member Donna Newlins told the publication.
Why did it take so long to find Julian Sands?
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Julian Sands at the Venice Film Festival on September 3, 2019 in Venice, Italy.
After Sands was reported missing, eight separate searches were conducted by authorities, both by air and on the ground, with 500 man-hours logged and $100,000 spent on resources, according to Los Angeles Times.
In part, search parties were unable to locate Sands’ remains due to hazardous weather conditions.
A final search was conducted on June 17, 2023, which included more than 80 volunteers and search and rescue personnel. They were supported by two helicopters and drone crews, according to a statement from the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department.
Sands’ family released a statement via the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s X account on June 21, 2023, in which they wrote, “We are deeply grateful to the search teams and coordinators who worked tirelessly to find Julian.”
The actor’s remains were found by a group of hikers three days later.
What was the public reaction to the death of Julian Sands?
zz/GPTCW/STAR MAX/IPx
Julian Sands attends The Great British Film Reception on February 20, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
Details of Sands’ funeral have been kept private by the family, but several people close to the actor have spoken publicly about his death.
His ex-wife Sarah told him Daily Mail in August 2023 that he was a “restless” and “curious” person.
“Both artistically and geographically, an adventurer,” she said. “I could not imagine that he was imprisoned in any way; through sickness or old age.”
Sands manager Sarah Jackson said in a statement to PEOPLE that “Julian was a great friend and client… He was an avid climber and we take comfort in knowing that he has passed on to a place he loved, doing what he loved.”
Read the original article on People