Family fear worst for missing climber
The family of a Hampshire man lost in the Himalayas have admitted they fear they will never see him again.
Julian Wynne has been missing since December 23.
Now the 33-year-old's family have conceded that after three months of desperate searches, they are losing hope of finding him.
Julian's younger sister Sophie, 29, said: 'We hope he's alive, that's what we're wishing, but it's not looking good now.
'He hasn't been seen for three months, he hasn't signed out of the Sagarmatha National Park and he hasn't used his bank.
'Hope's running out with every day. But he's our brother. We're holding on to every chance he may be alive somewhere.'
The Wynne family have spent the last three months raising money and searching for Julian, of Beaufort Avenue, Fareham.
Julian and friend Lee Jeffries left England in October for a nine-month trip which was to include India, Tibet and the Himalayas.
They climbed the Gokyo Ri area and descended on December 21 last year.
They planned to head to Everest Base Camp, which would have involved them crossing Cho La, but after disagreeing on the best route, they split up on December 22.
Julian returned to the lodge in Dragnak where both were staying, and told the lodge owner he planned to go to Phortse, a small encampment on the Cho La pass, the next day. But he hasn't been seen since.
The family has paid for local trail guides to scour the area, set up Facebook groups and the www.findjuw.org.uk website, as well as contacting the British Embassy, but have so far turned up nothing.
Sophie admits they are desperate to do more.
She said: 'We want to get out there. It's hard to be here waiting.
'But we've told all the guides out there about him and it's a very close-knit community, so his details will be known by everyone.
'We're praying and saving so that if he's found – even if the worst happens – we can afford to fly out and bring him home.'
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Friday 25 May 2012
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