A body found during the search for two missing British men in the Dolomites is believed to be Samuel Harris, according to Italy’s alpine rescue service.
Samuel Harris, 35, and Aziz Ziriat, 36, both from London, were last heard from on 1 January after sending messages from Trentino in northern Italy. They failed to board their return flight to the UK on 6 January.
Discovery in High-Altitude Area
The body was found during a helicopter search on Wednesday morning, buried under snow in a high-altitude area where a phone signal was last detected from one of the men. The location, near the Carè Alto mountain in Trento, was identified as the site of the discovery.
In an update later on Wednesday, the rescue team confirmed the body is believed to be Mr Harris, found beneath snow at the base of a rock face. While the cause of death remains unclear, a fall from height is one possible explanation.
A video sent to family members on 1 January showed the terrain and the bivouac hut. The footage revealed the pair had planned to leave their packs behind for a day while moving to the next valley.
Despite an extensive aerial search of the area between the hut and a nearby summit, using reflective surface detection and electronic device scanning, no further traces were found.
Search for Mr Ziriat Postponed
Due to deteriorating weather conditions, the search for Mr Ziriat has been temporarily suspended. The rescue team, which included avalanche-trained dog units, plans to resume efforts as soon as the weather improves, likely on Friday.
The men’s backpacks and equipment were located earlier on Wednesday in a bivouac hut where the pair is thought to have sought shelter.
Family members of both men have travelled to Italy, where they are receiving support from psychologists.
Rebecca Dimmock, Mr Ziriat’s girlfriend, described the pair as “experienced hikers.” She explained, “They wanted to do a New Year’s hike, moving from hut to hut across the Dolomites. Going off-grid wasn’t unexpected for them.”
The rescue operation continues as the team awaits conditions suitable for a renewed search effort.
