This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/07/search-begins-for-british-hikers-missing-in-northern-italy-since-new-years-day

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Search begins for British hikers missing in northern Italy since New Year’s Day Search begins for British hikers missing in northern Italy since New Year’s Day
(32 minutes later)
Aziz Ziriat, 36, and Samuel Harris, 35, were ‘planning on going off-grid’ during holiday in the DolomitesAziz Ziriat, 36, and Samuel Harris, 35, were ‘planning on going off-grid’ during holiday in the Dolomites
A search is under way for a pair of British hikers in the Dolomites in northern Italy who have been missing since New Year’s Day.A search is under way for a pair of British hikers in the Dolomites in northern Italy who have been missing since New Year’s Day.
Aziz Ziriat, 36, and Samuel Harris, 35, last sent messages home on 1 January from the Trentino region. They have not been heard from since. The pair, who are both from London, did not check in to their flight home on 6 January.Aziz Ziriat, 36, and Samuel Harris, 35, last sent messages home on 1 January from the Trentino region. They have not been heard from since. The pair, who are both from London, did not check in to their flight home on 6 January.
On Tuesday, Crystal Palace’s official charity, Palace for Life, where Ziriat worked, appealed for anyone who knew the area they went missing in and could help to call 999 with the reference: CAD 0197/07 Jan25.On Tuesday, Crystal Palace’s official charity, Palace for Life, where Ziriat worked, appealed for anyone who knew the area they went missing in and could help to call 999 with the reference: CAD 0197/07 Jan25.
According to the BBC, Alpine Rescue, Guardia di Finanza Rescue, police and the local fire brigade are all involved in the search but, owing to recent snowfall, they are having difficulty reaching the area.According to the BBC, Alpine Rescue, Guardia di Finanza Rescue, police and the local fire brigade are all involved in the search but, owing to recent snowfall, they are having difficulty reaching the area.
Palace for Life said the pair’s last known location is believed to be near a hut called Casina Dosson which is near the town Tione di Trento, near Riva del Garda, on Lake Garda. They shared a picture of Harris wearing a grey T-shirt and black trousers, with a red jacket tied around his waist, saying this may have been the last outfit he wore before going missing.Palace for Life said the pair’s last known location is believed to be near a hut called Casina Dosson which is near the town Tione di Trento, near Riva del Garda, on Lake Garda. They shared a picture of Harris wearing a grey T-shirt and black trousers, with a red jacket tied around his waist, saying this may have been the last outfit he wore before going missing.
Rebecca Dimmock, Ziriat’s girlfriend, told the BBC the pair were “experienced hikers” who were “planning on going off-grid”.Rebecca Dimmock, Ziriat’s girlfriend, told the BBC the pair were “experienced hikers” who were “planning on going off-grid”.
“They wanted to do a new year’s hike. They wanted to go from hut to hut throughout the Dolomites. They were planning on going off-grid, so that’s not unexpected at all.“They wanted to do a new year’s hike. They wanted to go from hut to hut throughout the Dolomites. They were planning on going off-grid, so that’s not unexpected at all.
“I think they wanted to have some nights where they were out in nature and in fresh air and sleeping in the wild. They have all the gear and they’ve done hikes before.“I think they wanted to have some nights where they were out in nature and in fresh air and sleeping in the wild. They have all the gear and they’ve done hikes before.
“But they also wanted to get into the huts and have fires and drink red wine because it was new year’s, which they did do, because he did message me at one point and he was carrying a log up the mountain to one of the huts.”“But they also wanted to get into the huts and have fires and drink red wine because it was new year’s, which they did do, because he did message me at one point and he was carrying a log up the mountain to one of the huts.”
Dimmock added: “I know they made it to the hut, and they were drinking red wine, but he said it was freezing.”Dimmock added: “I know they made it to the hut, and they were drinking red wine, but he said it was freezing.”
She said she last spoke to Ziriat at about 10am UK time on New Year’s Day.She said she last spoke to Ziriat at about 10am UK time on New Year’s Day.
“He sent some photos of the mountains and a couple of himself. He said his phone was about to die but he would write back to me properly soon.”“He sent some photos of the mountains and a couple of himself. He said his phone was about to die but he would write back to me properly soon.”
She said a few hours later, her messages were not being received by Ziriat’s phone.She said a few hours later, her messages were not being received by Ziriat’s phone.
“His phone had obviously died at that point, or he was out of range,” she said.“His phone had obviously died at that point, or he was out of range,” she said.
Friends of the pair are flying out to the region from London this evening to help with the search.Friends of the pair are flying out to the region from London this evening to help with the search.
A Metropolitan police spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with the families of Aziz Ziriat and Samuel Harris at this deeply distressing time. Our specialist officers are continuing to do all they can to support their families.
“While this case falls outside the jurisdiction of the Met, we are working closely with the NCA, Interpol and local mountain rescue teams in the region to provide our support and any additional resources.”