A deceased individual has been discovered during the search for two British hikers who went missing in the Dolomites, according to Italy’s alpine rescue services.
Aziz Ziriat, aged 36, and Samuel Harris, aged 35, hailing from London, were trekking but had not made contact since 1 January and failed to check in for their flight back home on Monday.
Their last recorded position was near a mountain hut named Casina Dosson, situated close to the town of Tione Di Trento, near Riva Del Garda, on the shores of Lake Garda.
A spokesperson for Italy’s CNSAS (The National Alpine Cliff And Cave Rescue Corps) stated that ground teams located a body in the vicinity of Passo di Conca “sadly deceased, entombed under the snow”.
The rescue crews had been scouring the area after tracing a “mobile phone of one of the two climbers”.
A probe has been initiated regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident, the spokesperson reported.
The organization reiterated that a search for the second climber would persist “on the ground”.
The families of both individuals had been notified and were receiving support from specialists.
The backpacks and gear belonging to the two British mountaineers were discovered at the Malga Dosson bivouac, in Val San Valentino, amidst “better weather conditions” on Wednesday, officials confirmed.
This week’s searches have faced challenges due to fluctuating weather conditions accompanied by warnings of thick fog and potential snow avalanches.
Recent significant snowfall has also affected the valleys within the Adamello mountain range.
A close friend of the hikers expressed that they had been “anxiously waiting” for updates and that helicopters were “surveying two particular spots – two refuge huts”.
Joe Stone remarked: “They are seasoned hikers and take trips a couple of times annually.
“It wasn’t surprising that they had no (mobile) signal as they prefer to disconnect from technology.
“However, alarms were raised when they failed to show up for their flight on 6 January.”
Mr Harris (left) and Mr Ziriat
Mr. Ziriat’s girlfriend and close friends of the hikers are presently in Italy assisting in coordinating the search alongside local authorities.
Mr Stone further added: “The reaction from local authorities has been remarkable, and individuals from diverse backgrounds have been attempting to assist, both in Italy and the UK.”
Numerous appeals have been initiated to aid in locating the men, including one from Crystal Palace Football Club, where Mr Ziriat is employed.
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