Ont. firefighter who went missing in N.Y. found in California

TORONTO — A Toronto firefighter who was the subject of an extensive six-day search at a New York ski centre has been found safe in California, leaving officials puzzled as to how the 49-year-old managed to get across the U.S.

Constantinos (Danny) Filippidis was reported missing Feb. 7 at Whiteface Mountain during an annual ski trip with colleagues. Officials say more than 140 people spent nearly 7,000 hours searching the rugged mountain terrain, calling in helicopters and search dogs to assist.

The search was called off Tuesday afternoon when Filippidis was located near Sacramento.

Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg said the service was relieved to know Filippidis was safe.

Filippidis was taken to hospital as he appeared to be “confused and was unable to give direct answers,” Frank Ramagnano, president of the Toronto Professional Firefighters’ Association, told reporters Tuesday evening.

“He had phoned [his wife] and called her by a nickname, she quickly recognized the voice and that it was him,” Ramagnano said. “Then they lost contact and he contacted her again and they kept him on the phone and asked him to call 911 to get him help as soon as possible.”

Filippidis was alone when he was found and was still wearing the clothing he had been skiing in when he went missing, Ramagnano said, adding that he didn’t know if Filippidis has a history of mental illness.

“Please appreciate that authorities will be conducting a full and thorough investigation into what transpired,” Ramagnano said.

He said Filippidis was last seen by a colleague on the ski hill about 2:30 p.m. last Wednesday. He added that U.S. authorities were in possession of the man’s passport, so it was unlikely Filippidis flew to California.