Body found in search for two British men who went missing while hiking in Italian Dolomites
8 January 2025, 11:27 | Updated: 8 January 2025, 11:58
A body has been found in the search for two British men who went missing while hiking in the Italian Dolomites, Italy's alpine rescue service has said.
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Samuel Harris, 35, and Aziz Ziriat, 36, both from London, were last heard from on New Year's Day.
They last spoke to friends and family that day, sending a video of the scenery in the Trentino region of northeast Italy.
The pair did not check into their flight home on January 6.
A spokesperson for Italy's National Alpine Cliff and Cave Rescue Corps (CNSAS) said ground teams had found a body in the area of Passo di Conca "sadly deceased, buried under the snow".
The rescue teams had been searching the area after tracking a "phone of one of the two mountaineers".
An investigation is under way into the circumstances of the incident, the spokesperson said.
The CNSAS said the search would continue and the families of both men had been informed.
Joe Stone, a university friend of Mr Ziriat, told the PA news agency the pair were "experienced hikers" who liked to go off the grid, but "alarm bells were raised" when they failed to check in for their return flight.
He said: "They are experienced hikers and they go a couple of times a year. It wasn't surprising that they had no signal as they like going off the grid.
"Alarm bells were raised though when they didn't turn up for their flight on January 6.
"Helicopters are now searching two specific locations - two refuge huts.
"We think that's going to be the best chance of success."We're all waiting anxiously and the next few hours are crucial."
This is a breaking news story. More to follow...
