Two Men Go Hiking in Italian Mountains but Fail to Return Home. Authorities Launch Search, but Heavy Snowfall is Making it Difficult
A search is underway for two British hikers who didn’t return home after a trip to the Italian mountains.
Aziz Ziriat, 36, and Samuel Harris, 35, were hiking in the Dolomites in northern Italy over the New Year. The two, from London, were last in contact on January 1 at 2:20 PM when they messaged loved ones from the Trentino region.
They were supposed to fly back to the UK on January 6 but didn’t show up for their flight. Their last known location was near a hut close to Tione di Trento, near Lake Garda.
Italian authorities say it’s unusual for hikers to go missing during this time of year. Rescue efforts by Alpine Rescue, Guardia di Finanza Rescue, Carabinieri, and the local fire brigade are underway, but heavy snowfall is making the search difficult.
Friends of the pair are traveling from London to Italy to help, and appeals for information have been posted on social media. Crystal Palace Football Club, where Ziriat works, shared a message asking for help locating him and Harris.
They said the pair were last near Casina Dosson and provided a phone number (999) with a reference number (CAD 0197/07 Jan25) for anyone with information.
Descriptions of the hikers were also shared: Ziriat is 6’3 and studied at the University of Brighton, while Harris is 5’11 and attended Oxford Brookes.
Microsoft AI executive Mustafa Suleyman also posted a plea on LinkedIn, urging anyone familiar with the area to assist in the search.
