Adelaide family desperate to find son missing for more than eight months in Albania
An Australian family is desperately trying to find their son and brother who disappeared while hiking in Albania more than eight months ago.
Several searches have failed to find Cameron Twiss, 28, and now his Adelaide family are trying to raise funds to continue a private search.
Twiss failed to return from walking a hiking track in the Accursed Mountains on October 13, 2024.
He had set off alone from Valbona, in the north of the Balkan nation, heading for Theth about 17km away.
His belongings including his passport were later found in his hostel.
Albanian police and professional mountain searchers exhausted thousands of man hours searching the trail, with drones and sniffer dogs also enlisted in the efforts to try to find Twiss.
No further trace of Twiss was found and the search was called off after two weeks.
Stuart Twiss has now relaunched a crowd-funding appeal for a private detective to continue seeking clues to his brother's whereabouts.
He said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has not been able to provide any answers to his family.
'So far Albanian police have not found any evidence and DFAT haven't been able to help,' Stuart Twiss said.
'Our family has now employed private investigators but, despite their efforts, we've had no breakthroughs.
'We're reaching out to ask for help ... toward continuing the search for Cameron.'
When Twiss first disappeared, locals told 7NEWS the 17km-long hiking trail should normally be undertaken with a professional guide.
However, it is understood Twiss set out alone.
At the time a friend told 7NEWS they feared he had fallen from a cliff or met with foul play.
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News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Keep hope alive': Family of Adelaide hiker last seen in Albania reveal major update after eight month ordeal
The family of an Australian who disappeared on a hiking trip in Albania have issued a fresh plea for answers, revealing their latest update eight months after he vanished. Cameron Twiss, 28, last spoke to his family ahead of trek into the Albanian Alps in October last year. His family are now fundraising for a private investigator following extensive searches of the area. 'So far Albanian police have not found any evidence and DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) haven't been able to help,' Cameron's brother Stuart said in the fundraiser. 'Our family has now employed private investigators, but despite their efforts, we've had no breakthroughs. 'We're reaching out to ask for help - any financial contribution, no matter how small, would mean the world to us and will go directly toward continuing the search for Cameron.' Launched on Monday, the fundraiser had garnered more than $10,000 as of Wednesday night. Mr Twiss went missing in the Albanian Alps, which are also named the Accursed Mountains, which extend across Albania's northern border into Montenegro. Mr Twiss had planned to hike from an isolated village called Valbona, to another isolated village called Theth. Hiking websites generally consider the trip a moderately difficult trek while anecdotes on forums suggest hikers should take a guide on the journey during winter. The Adelaide Advertiser interviewed a hiking guide who took Mr Twiss and a group onto the trail, who revealed Mr Twiss split from the trek by himself part-way through the hike. The guide reported he was last seen heading for the busy path to Theth. The hike requires a day of travel by road to the remote starting point. Albanian authorities found Mr Twiss' passport in his hostel hundreds of kilometres away in the city of Shkoder. The hostel operator filed a missing persons report when Mr Twiss did not collect his belongings. 'Your support can make a real difference in helping us find answers,' Stuart said in the fundraiser. 'Please share this message and help us keep hope alive and find some answers in this hard time.'
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7NEWS
7 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Adelaide family desperate to find son missing for more than eight months in Albania
An Australian family is desperately trying to find their son and brother who disappeared while hiking in Albania more than eight months ago. Several searches have failed to find Cameron Twiss, 28, and now his Adelaide family are trying to raise funds to continue a private search. Twiss failed to return from walking a hiking track in the Accursed Mountains on October 13, 2024. He had set off alone from Valbona, in the north of the Balkan nation, heading for Theth about 17km away. His belongings including his passport were later found in his hostel. Albanian police and professional mountain searchers exhausted thousands of man hours searching the trail, with drones and sniffer dogs also enlisted in the efforts to try to find Twiss. No further trace of Twiss was found and the search was called off after two weeks. Stuart Twiss has now relaunched a crowd-funding appeal for a private detective to continue seeking clues to his brother's whereabouts. He said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has not been able to provide any answers to his family. 'So far Albanian police have not found any evidence and DFAT haven't been able to help,' Stuart Twiss said. 'Our family has now employed private investigators but, despite their efforts, we've had no breakthroughs. 'We're reaching out to ask for help ... toward continuing the search for Cameron.' When Twiss first disappeared, locals told 7NEWS the 17km-long hiking trail should normally be undertaken with a professional guide. However, it is understood Twiss set out alone. At the time a friend told 7NEWS they feared he had fallen from a cliff or met with foul play.
