A DESPERATE search and rescue mission has been launched for two Brits missing since New Year’s Day after they went on a mountain hike.
Aziz Ziriat, 36, and Samuel Harris, 35, from London, were last seen and heard from a week ago, after sending messages home from the Italian Dolomites.
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Sam Harris, 35, has been missing since New Year’s DayCredit: X formerly Twitter / @PalaceForLife
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His friend Aziz Ziriat is also missing after a mountain hike in ItalyCredit: X formerly Twitter / @PalaceForLife
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Friend of the pair Saf Suleyman and Aziz’s girlfriend Rebecca Dimmock are flying to the region to help with the search
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Fears for the pair grew after they missed their flight home on 6 January.
The friends were last known to be near a hut called Casina Dosson which is near the town Tione Di Trento, near Riva Del Garda, on Lake Garda.
A mass search for the friends has encountered difficulties due to heavy snowfall in recent days, according to local authorities.
Italian rescue teams revealed the harsh weather has made reaching the area increasingly difficult.
Authorities added that it was unusual for hikers in the area to go missing this time of year.
Sam and Aziz’s friends are flying out to the Trentino region this evening to help with the frantic search mission.
Aziz’s girlfriend Rebecca Dimmock called the pair “experienced hikers” but revealed she last spoke to her boyfriend around 10 am on New Year’s Day, according to The BBC.
She revealed what her last words to the now-missing hiker were last week.
Rebecca said: “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.”
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Rebecca also shared that the pals were planning to go between huts in the mountain range on their New Year’s hike.
She added: “I know they made it to the hut, and they were drinking red wine, but he said it was freezing.”
Rebecca revealed that her messages stopped going through to him as it is believed the pair’s phones died or lost service.
Crystal Palace F.C. has appealed for information to help find the duo as one of the friends works for the club.
Aziz works for the Premier League club’s official Palace For Life charity.
A desperate post from Palace on X said: “A member of the Palace For Life staff and his friend have been missing since 1st January in the Dolomites.
“If anyone knows the area, is able to support further or has any information that will help, please call 999 and reference CAD 0197/07 Jan25.”
Saf Suleyman, the chief executive of Microsoft’s AI division, also issued a desperate appeal on LinkedIn on Tuesday.
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Crystal Palace, where Aziz worked, shared possible routes the friends could have taken before they disappearedCredit: X/@PalaceForLife
He said: “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 Riva Del Garda, on Lake Garda.”
Saf also told The BBC that he would be one of the friends flying out to Italy to help with the frantic search.
He said: “We are going to leave soon and fly to Italy and be on the ground and coordinate search efforts.
“We’re not going to be going up the mountain, we want to be in the town coordinating with the local authorities.”
The club also shared a map of possible routes the duo could have taken on their hike.
Palace fans have been urged to share images and information on their social outlets to increase the search for the missing friends.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online
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