Desperate search underway for two British hikers who failed to board their flight home from Italian mountains

A desperate search is underway for two British hikers who failed to board their flight home from a trip to the Italian mountains.

Aziz Ziriat, 36, and Samuel Harris, 35, had been hiking in northern Italy, through the Dolomites, over new year.

The pair, from London, were last heard from on 1 January at 2.20pm when they sent messages to their loved ones from the Trentino region.

They were then due back home yesterday (6 January) but did not check into their return flight to the UK.

Their last known location is believed to be near a hut, not far from the town Tione Di Trento nearby Rival Del Garda on Lake Garda.

Italian authorities have said it is unusual for hikers to go missing at this time of year.

Alpine Rescue, Guardia di Finanza Rescue, Carabinieri and the local fire brigade are all involved in the search.

However, due to recent snowfall, rescue teams say they are having difficulty reaching the area.

Friends of Ziriat and Harris are flying out from London to the region this evening (7 January).

Appeals for information on the pair have also been shared to social media.

This includes a post by Crystal Palace Football Club, where Ziriat works.

“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 club wrote.

“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.”

It also included descriptions of the men and the route they were potentially following.

Ziriat, described as being 6’3, attended the University of Brighton while Harris is 5’11 and was a student at Oxford Brookes.

Mustafa Suleyman, the chief executive of Microsoft's AI division, posted on LinkedIn: "I urgently need your help! Two of my friends have gone missing whilst hiking in the Dolomites.

"We know they were near Casina Dosson Tione Di Trento, near Rival Del Garda, on Lake Garda."