Bear attack theory on missing SA man Cameron Twiss as third Albania tourist vanishes

The likely final steps of a hiker who disappeared without a trace in Albania have been revealed, as a terrifying new theory emerges about the bizarre case.

Fears have emerged that missing South Australian hiker Cameron Twiss could have been attacked by a bear on a popular Albanian hiking path, with a search team retracing the 28-year-old’s likely final steps.

It comes as it is revealed Mr Twiss is the third hiker to vanish in the region in just two months, despite disappearances on the trail being “highly unusual”.

Mr Twiss was last seen on October 13 after setting off on a 17km trail between Valbona and Theth in the Albanian Alps, which is considered the region’s busiest hike.

It is understood Mr Twiss was travelling alone and did not have a guide accompanying him.

Police and Albania and Kosovo Mountain Search and Rescue Service volunteers spent two weeks searching the area using helicopters, drones and on foot – to no avail.

One of Mr Twiss’ close friends, Purnima Flanagan, said the 28-year-old wasn’t formally reported missing to police until November 9, six days after search efforts were halted.

Ms Flanagan shared her final messages with Mr Twiss, sent just hours before he disappeared, in which he speaks about making vodka with a “random Albanian man”.

One of the last known pictures of Cameron Twiss in Albania. Picture: Supplied

One of the last known pictures of Cameron Twiss in Albania. Picture: Supplied

“This was Cameron to a tee, he loves to talk and he loves to mingle … he was the perfect traveller and always made friends wherever he went,” Ms Flanagan said.

Ms Flanagan said Mr Twiss had actually set off on the Valbona trail with a group of tourists from the town, but decided to go off on his own a short way into the hike.

She said she only learnt of his disappearance in early November, after a number of her messages went unanswered.

After the alarm was raised over his whereabouts, authorities discovered Mr Twiss’ belongings and passport in his hostel in the nearby town of Shkoder.

“I noticed he wasn’t messaging me back, I sent him a message again around early November and a week later I messaged again, and that’s when his mum said, ‘Hey I need to talk to you about Cameron’,” Ms Flanagan said.

Cameron Twiss, with friend Purnima Flanagan. Pictures: Supplied

Cameron Twiss with friend Purnima Flanagan. Picture: Supplied

“I just don’t understand how no-one could have seen or heard anything. He would have made friends in that town, he was an experienced hiker and he was good with direction.”

Diana Milani, who manages a guesthouse in Theth, said it was “not often” that hikers went missing on the trail, which is generally considered to be safe for tourists.

“There were helicopters and police here for two weeks but they couldn’t find him … it is very strange,” she said.

Official search efforts were halted on November 3.

On Saturday, an Albania Search and Rescue Service volunteer said it was possible Mr Twiss could have been attacked by a brown bear, although incidents involving the animals were extremely rare in the region.

There are only an estimated 200 of the dangerous animals in the country – but the volunteer said they were known to be in the area.

Arben Kola, a tour guide who has been hiking the Valbona to Theth trail for the past decade, said he initially believed Mr Twiss could have become disoriented at a complicated crossroads on the trail.

A Lithuanian man went missing in the area just a month before Mr Twiss’ disappearance. Picture: Emily Olle

The road to Theth, Albania. Picture: Emily Olle

However, search and rescue teams have since determined that Mr Twiss had been following the path in the right direction before he disappeared.

“My biggest concern from the start when he was missing was that he had taken the wrong path, because I’ve seen people taking the wrong path in the past and I’ve shouted at them,” he said.

“The main path is the only (safe) path unless you want to die or disappear.

“But apparently he was on the main path, so it only adds to the mystery.”

A member of the rescue operation told The Advertiser they scoured both sides of the cliff but had found no trace of Mr Twiss.

The 28-year-old is now the third person to vanish from the path in two months, after a Lithuanian man disappeared on September 6.

A 72-year-old Belgian hiker also disappeared from a hike in Dibra, in the country’s south-east, on September 18.

In the town of Theth, seasoned Dutch hikers Gido and Stella told The Advertiser they had seen missing persons flyers for both Mr Twiss and the Lithuanian traveller and initially held fears of foul play.

Staff at the Wanderers Hostel, one of the town’s most popular Aussie tourist spots, have raised questions over Mr Twiss’ disappearance. Picture: Emily Olle

Cameron Twiss. Pictures: Supplied

Cameron Twiss. Pictures Facebook

“We felt a little weird, because there was also another guy (missing) … we talked about it and we felt a little bit sketchy,” Gido said.

“At first I was thinking, ‘Oh was there a kidnapping here’, or something like that,” Stella said.

However, both hikers believed Mr Twiss was likely just the victim of misadventure.

“I think it’s always dangerous in the mountains, especially when you’re high up … one step could be fatal,” Gido said.

Earlier this week, one of Mr Twiss’ friends told The Advertiser they had concerns the 28-year-old could have been kidnapped or killed.

But Mr Kola said criminal activity would be highly unusual for the tourist-dense area.

“Since using the path in 2014 I’ve never come across anything like that,” he said.

“That track is the most popular in Albania and there are always people … you would be seen.”

He had not seen Mr Twiss before his disappearance but said the Lithuanian man had been “behaving erratically” before he went missing.

Albania State Police did not respond to requests for comment by The Advertiser by deadline.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said DFAT was providing consular assistance to Mr Twiss’ family but could not provide further comment due to privacy reasons.

Anyone in the area with information about his disappearance has been urged to contact authorities.