CANYON LAKE, Texas – A 22-year-old camper disappeared at Canyon Lake over the weekend and is still unaccounted for.
Aamir Ali was on a camping trip with two friends at Canyon Lake when he told them he was going for a short walk around 9 p.m. Friday.
Investigators said his friends became concerned when he didn’t return.
They went looking for Ali and found his phone, clothes and Airpods by the lake shore and then called the police.
A spokesperson with Comal County Sheriff’s Office said deputies weren’t notified of Ali’s disappearance until Saturday morning.
“He went missing near campsite 48 at Potters Creek Park,” the spokesperson told KSAT Tuesday afternoon. “We have used our K9 units as well as drones. At this time, he is still missing and units continue to search.”
Authorities in the area spent all day Saturday conducting a search, including utilizing boats to search the water.
On Monday evening, after authorities packed up for the day, Ali’s family continued search efforts. More than 30 loved ones made the trip from Houston to help.
“We’re still hopeful. We hope that he’s at least alive,” said Taha Ali, Aamir Ali’s cousin.
She said the family has partnered with the organization Search and Rescue San Antonio to help look for Aamir Ali.
The organization brought its own canines and helped with aerial and underwater drones on Monday.
“Canyon Lake has many ridges and dropoffs, and this spot right here has a ridge and a dropoff that the Comal County dive team couldn’t get down to, something with their sonar. The ridge wasn’t wide enough,” said Nina Glass, co-director of Search and Rescue San Antonio, referring to some of the areas being searched.
As the search continues at Canyon Lake, friends are doing what they can back home in Houston.
“I have posted on a few places -- Instagram a popular page. I reached out on Reddit, to users that are subscribed to a thread, hoping maybe people will see it there,” said a friend of Aamir Ali.
People KSAT spoke with described Aamir Ali as smart, hardworking, and someone you’d want in your corner. His disappearance is devastating to those who know him.
“I’m trying to keep up ... so I can at least talk to the officers. I can communicate with you guys or anybody, but the parents are completely broken down,” said Taha Ali.
KSAT emailed the Comal County Sheriff’s Office to get an update on the investigation. The agency said crews are actively searching for Aamir Ali. It also referred us to Texas Parks and Wildlife, which issued the following statement earlier on Monday:
“Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Game Wardens are currently assisting the Comal County Sheriff’s Office in the search for a missing person at Canyon Lake. Texas Game Wardens began the ongoing search at the lake on Saturday.”
Anyone with information about Aamir Ali’s whereabouts is asked to call the Comal County Sheriff’s Office at (830) 620-3400.
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