Albanian authorities search for missing Adelaide man Cameron Twiss in Accursed Mountains

A frantic search is under way for a South Australian man who has disappeared after setting out on a hike in Albania, with friends fearing “foul play” might have been involved.

The disappearance of a South Australian man travelling in the northern part of Albania has prompted a major search, as friends fear “foul play” might have been involved.

Cameron Twiss, 28, from Adelaide was last sighted on October 13 around 8am at Valbona Valley, just before he was about to embark on a hike that would have taken him to a small village named Theth.

Local authorities believe Mr Twiss intended to walk the Valbona-Theth trail before returning to his hostel in Shkoder.

He left travel documents, clothes, and other belonging in the hostel.

In efforts to find Mr Twiss, a number of search expeditions across the Valbona-Theth trail have been organised led by mountain rescue groups and assisted by drones.

The Advertiser understands that Mr Twiss’ brother had flown over to Albania and participated in several on foot search parties.

Search parties have been deployed for Cameron Twiss, last seen more than a month ago hiking in Albania. Facebook: The Mountain Search and Rescue Service of Albania

He was last seen in Valbona Valley.

A friend, who spoke to The Advertiser on the condition of anonymity due to his employment, said he feared something sinister had happened to Mr Twiss because he hadn’t yet been found.

“At the end of the day, if it was a simple matter of Cameron falling off the side of the cliff, the Albanian search and rescue groups and their drones would have found his body by now,” he said. “But it’s been five weeks and we’ve heard nothing.

“I just think – if they have been doing their job – there would have been some signs of him.

“I obviously don’t known what happened to Cameron but because it’s the unknown you can’t help but imagine the worst and fear that he’s been human trafficked or killed.”

He also said that Cameron led a very fit and active lifestyle, and the Valbona-Theth trail which is about a 17km line walk that takes 6-8 hours to complete, would have “been well within Cameron’s capabilities”.

The route is a part of the Accursed Mountains, which are also known as the Albanian Alps.

Yet despite his worst fears, he says he believes the authorities can find Cameron alive.

“I think there’s lots of hope to find him,” he said. “I do believe there’s still time.

“Cameron has always been a bit of a larrikin but also a happy-go-lucky sort of guy … I think he should be able to pull through from wherever he is.”

Mr Twiss was expected to return to a hostel in Shkoder.

Mr Twiss also worked at luxury resort Lodore Falls in the UK’s popular Lake District on multiple occasions this year. His former colleague, Susana Machi, said staff were “devastated” after hearing of his disappearance.

“Cameron’s been here a couple of times to earn some money and then travel and then he’d come back again,” the 40-year-old said.

“He was here for three months last time before he went to Albania a couple of months ago, around the end of September, start of October.”

Ms Machi described Twiss as a keen adventurer and said she used to regularly talk to him about his travel plans.

“I knew what he had planned, that he was going to Albania, but his disappearance it’s quite devastating because it’s someone that we personally know,” Ms Machi said.

“It gives you a sour feeling, not knowing where he has gone and what has happened to him”.

The Mountain Search and Rescue Service of Albania has provided the latest update on their investigation via a Facebook post on November 2.

They wrote they were forced to pause their search efforts after their investigations of the Valbona-Theth trail yielded no new leads.

“Our members in co-ordination with the State Police checked today the trail that takes you from Valbona to Theth and the suspected areas where tourists encounter the most difficulties but today’s search resulted in no sign of the person,” they wrote.

“The search has been suspended to receive more information.”

They called for anyone in the area who might have encountered a tourist along the trail or has any relevant information to contact authorities.

An SA Police spokesperson has confirmed that they “are providing assistance to the lead agency” in aiding in the search of Mr Twiss.

However, “due to privacy principles” they were unable to provide further comment.

Originally published as Albanian authorities search for missing Adelaide man Cameron Twiss in Accursed Mountains