High winds again ground helicopters in the search for actor Julian Sands

High winds have again grounded helicopters in the search for British actor Julian Sands.

Two weeks have now passed since Sands was first reported missing in the San Gabriel mountains in California on January 13, with numerous searches on foot and from the air having taken place.

Aerial efforts resumed briefly on Wednesday, with authorities using new technology that can detect electronic devices and credit cards.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said it was “hopeful” that the technology would be able to more accurately pinpoint an area on which to focus efforts.

But a spokesperson for the department told the PA news agency on Thursday, that strong winds had meant the air searches could not be continued.

The department previously said that fresh searches on higher ground for Sands were still not possible due to poor conditions.

On Wednesday, the sheriff’s department tweeted: “The search for Julian Sands continues by air only.

“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 our @CHP_HQ partners, Officers Hertzell & Calcutt, can pinpoint an area where we can focus our search efforts, and we thank them for their assistance.”

Infrared devices have also been used by authorities previously, but to no effect.

Sands’ family previously praised the “heroic” efforts of Californian authorities conducting the search efforts.

In a statement, also shared by the sheriff’s department, his family said they were “deeply touched” by the support they had received in the days since his disappearance.

Sands was born in Yorkshire and moved to Los Angeles in 2020, following a successful career on both the big and small screen.

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.