In a tragic turn of events, the body of a missing British hiker was discovered in Italy’s Dolomite Mountains, bringing a somber end to a months-long search. Aziz Ziriat, 36, from London, was found on May 31, 2025, nearly five months after he and his friend Samuel Harris, 35, went missing during a New Year’s Day hike in the rugged Adamello range. 🥾
The two experienced hikers set out on January 1, 2025, planning to trek from hut to hut in the Dolomites, a stunning but challenging mountain range in northern Italy. Their last known location was near the Casina Dosson mountain hut, close to Tione di Trento near Lake Garda. 📍 They sent messages home that day, with Ziriat’s girlfriend, Rebecca Dimmock, recalling him mentioning carrying a log to a hut for a fire, a sign of their plan to embrace the wilderness. 🔥🌲 However, alarm bells rang when the pair failed to board their return flight to London on January 6, prompting a massive search operation. 🚨
Rescue efforts began immediately, involving Italy’s Trentino Alpine and Speleological Rescue team, firefighters, the Italian Financial Police’s Alpine rescue branch, and volunteers. 🚁 Despite heavy snowfall, dense fog, and avalanche risks hampering the search, a breakthrough came on January 8 when Harris’s body was found buried under snow at the base of Carè Alto’s southern face, likely due to a fall from a cliff. 🪨❄️ The discovery was made possible by tracing a phone signal from one of the hikers. 📱
Ziriat remained missing, leaving his family and friends in anguish. Items like his phone case and a card were found near Harris’s body, fueling hope but also fear. 😔 On May 31, a rescue dog from the Italian Financial Police’s Alpine unit detected Ziriat’s body in a rocky crevice, hidden beneath layers of snow, about 400 meters below and 1,000 meters away from where Harris was found. 🐕 His remains were airlifted to Spiazzo Rendena, and his family was informed immediately. 🚁
Ziriat’s family expressed gratitude for the relentless efforts of the rescue teams, saying, “Their commitment to finding Aziz has been outstanding.” 🙏 The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed they are supporting the family and liaising with local authorities. 🇬🇧🇮🇹
The loss of Ziriat and Harris, both described as seasoned hikers who loved going “off-grid,” has left their loved ones and the hiking community devastated. Their story serves as a poignant reminder of the beauty and danger of the mountains, where even the most prepared can face unpredictable risks. 🏞️⚠️
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