Desperate search launched after two Brits vanish hiking in Italy's Dolomite mountains

7 January 2025, 17:16

The two men vanished while hiking in Northern Italy.
The two men vanished while hiking in Northern Italy. Picture: Handout

By Henry Moore

A massive search and rescue operation is underway in the Italian Dolomites for two British men who vanished while on a hiking trip.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Aziz Ziriat, 36, and Samuel Harris, 35, both from London, have not been heard from since January 1 after sending messages home.

They both missed their flight back to the UK on January 6.

Alpine Rescue, Guardia di Finanza Rescue, Carabinieri and the local fire brigade are working together to find the missing Brits, but heavy snowfall in the area means progress has been slow.

Authorities have said it is highly unusual for hikers to vanish at this time of year.

Read more: Urgent manhunt launched after man attempts to kidnap two children on busy London street

It is rare for hikers to go missing at this time of year.
It is rare for hikers to go missing at this time of year. Picture: Alamy

Friends of the pair are flying out to Northern Italy in a bid to aid in the search.

Loved ones of the two men have flooded social media with appeals to help find them.

Crystal Palace Football Club, where Ziriat works, wrote online: "Crystal Palace urges supporters to share any information they might have to help locate Palace for Life Foundation staff member Aziz Ziriat, and his friend Sam Harris, who have been missing since 1st January whilst hiking in the Dolomites mountains in northeastern Italy.

"The two were last heard from at 14:20 on Wednesday, 1st January, and they were believed to be near a hut called Casina Dosson – near the town Tione Di Trento, near Riva Del Garda, on Lake Garda. We are appealing for anyone familiar with the area, who can provide assistance or information, to get in touch. If you know the area and can help, please dial 999 and reference CAD 0197/07 Jan25."

Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI and a friend of the men took to LinkedIn to appeal for information.

He wrote: "Hi everyone, I urgently need your help! Two of my friends have gone missing whilst hiking in the Dolomites. They are both 35 and have been missing since 1st January while hiking in the snow.

"We know they were near Casina Dosson Tione Di Trento, near Rival Del Garda, on Lake Garda, and possibly this route (see image attached). We urgently need help locating them. If you have experience with mountain rescue or know people who might be able to help please dm me asap. Thank you!"

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

PM holds 'crisis summit' after Bank of England warning over 'Stagflation'

'Either be disruptors or disrupted': Starmer tells ministers at start of 'crisis summit' after 'Stagflation' warning

Exclusive
Marcelle King

'My face was swelling up like Frankenstein's Monster': LBC uncovers scores of illegal botox products being sold online

President Trump Hosts Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba At The White House

Donald Trump slams brakes on some China tariffs in third trade war U-turn

2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones - Roaming Arrivals

Calls for Kanye West to be removed from X after 'antisemitic rampage' online

Netlifx has hiked its subscription prices without adverts by £2, or 18%, to £12.99 a month for British users.

Netflix hikes prices for Brits after hitting record subscription figures

EL SALVADOR-RELIGION-WELBY

Justin Welby to live at Lambeth Palace despite quitting as archbishop after report into Church safeguarding failures

Retired PC Tim Bradshaw (left) and Andrew Newman, deputy chair of Sussex Police Federation, outside Portsmouth Crown Court

Retired police officer found not guilty after knocking two men off electric motorbike in order to 'protect life'

Detective Sergeant Richard Mills, aged 42, of Rochdale was sentenced to 18 months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court

Police detective jailed for 18 months after two sexual assaults on colleagues in workplace

A music teacher who appeared on a hit Channel 4 show has been accused of sexual assault and making indecent images of children.

Music teacher who appeared in hit Channel 4 show charged with making indecent images of children

Exclusive
A former prisoner who was pregnant while behind bars has called for childbearing women to get more support from the justice system.

‘I cried myself to sleep, covered in blood’: Former prisoner who was pregnant while jailed calls for justice system overhaul

Six-month old Sophia Kelemen was killed by a driverless car in a horror accident on January 2.

Baby girl dies in horror accident after driverless car smashes into pram on family holiday

Mohamed Al-Fayed's brother has denied sexual assault allegations brought forward by three former Harrods employees.

Mohamed Al Fayed's brother 'unequivocally' denies sexual assault allegations by three former Harrods employees

Kanye West, left, and Bianca Censori arrive at the 67th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Kanye West declares he’s a ‘Nazi,’ ‘loves Hitler’ and that he has ‘dominion’ over Bianca Censori in vile rant

A British man found dead with his wife inside their isolated French villa

British couple found dead in French villa named as fears former organised crime financial investigator was 'murdered'

TV chef Gino D'Acampo’s ITV shows have been pulled from schedules

Gino D’Acampo TV shows pulled from schedules amid investigation into ‘sexually inappropriate’ comments

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner as Labour has been accused of adding unnecessary costs on consumers

Fears more costs will pass to consumers as yet more taxes from Labour announced