One week marks today since 21-year-old Johan Williams disappeared while hiking in Samaria Gorge. His last sighting was in Gigilo, at an altitude of 1,700 meters, and rescue teams are continuing their search under extremely difficult conditions due to snow and dense fog.

Among the scenarios that Fire Department and EMAK is that the young man has reached a mite that exists on the route he appears to have followed, however, rescue teams are unable in the prevailing weather conditions to approach, according to neakriti.gr.

According to the authorities’ version and based on the data they studied, Johan Yuliams started from Xyloskalo Omalos, ran across the gorge, reached the settlement of Samaria, moved to Kato Kastro, Pano Kastro, crossed Papures, and continued to Gigilos.

At the same time, the 21-year-old’s family is appealing for support for the investigation with modern means such as thermal, and infrared cameras and more rescuers. In a statement released, it stresses that it intends to appeal to international mountain rescue organisations.

“People believe that everything possible has already been done. But this is not the case. Rescuers, the EMAK, and firefighters are involved in the search. But there are not enough rescuers. We urgently need more help. Today the weather is very bad. It snowed a lot during the night and it’s cold and windy. Helicopters and drones probably can’t fly,” it noted among other things.

In the same statement, the family of the water German runner who went missing last Thursday, February 13, clarifies that they do not wish to put anyone in danger and points out that “the area is very dangerous, the mountains are rocky, there are many cliffs and some areas are covered with snow and ice. We therefore need professional help, such as professional rescuers and climbers. We are urgently asking for help and we are extremely grateful for all those who have helped so far.”

The 21-year-old’s sister said Johan was a mountain runner, however, he was not properly prepared for being in cold conditions.

For his part, the president of the Mountaineering Association of Chania, Stavros Badogiannis commented that “the trail that the 21-year-old gave for the last time, is much further west of the Samaria Gorge. It can not in one day catch someone to go down the gorge and return to Xyloskalo from the other route, from the side of Gigilos. It is a very dangerous place and there is not even a marked path. The normal and clear path is the canyon bed. The rest to the right and left is only for those who know the area very well.”