Family of Brit hiker missing in Italian mountains ‘refuse to give up hope’ after body of pal found ‘buried under snow’

THE family of a missing British hiker are determined to continue their search despite the body of a pal he vanished with being found.

Aziz Ziriat, 36, went missing alongside Samuel Harris, 35, in the Italian Dolomites on New Year’s Day with rescue teams yet to find any trace of Aziz’s whereabouts.

A desperate hunt for the London friends was ignited after they failed to get on their flight home on January 6, and they had stopped answering their phones.

The first two days of the frantic search were hampered by heavy snowfall, fog, and avalanche warnings.

Rescue crews revealed they followed the hikers’ last phone recordings which led them to a body, later discovered to belong to Harris, on Wednesday.

Officials confirmed at the time that the families of both men had been informed.

Aziz’s mobile phone, card and glasses were all discovered close to Harris’ body but no sign of him was found.

The shocking news left Aziz’s family “devastated” but they defiantly vowed to keep up the hunt until they had more answers.

His heartbroken family released a statement this week saying: “We have been devastated by the loss of our beloved Aziz.

“Our appreciation for the co-ordinated work and expertise of the Alpine Rescue, emergency services and volunteers in Italy is immeasurable.

“The work they have been doing, battling against challenging terrain and weather conditions, and their commitment to finding Aziz has been outstanding.

“We are also incredibly grateful for the overwhelmingly kind and generous ongoing support from family and friends, Aziz is continuing to be loved and prayed for.

“We hope, with all our hearts, he will be found and brought home soon.”

Family and friends of the pair flew out to the Italian region last week to help with the rescue efforts.

The last known location of the duo was near a mountain hut called Casina Dosson, close to the town of Tione Di Trento.

The families later revealed the men planned to go between huts in the mountain range for a special New Year’s hike. 

Video shared with The Telegraph showed Aziz preparing to hike the mountain range with Sam before the fatal climb.

In the clip, he films the mountain range as well as a stone shelter where the friends are believed to have stayed overnight.

He says: “Happy New Year! Woken up to some delightful sunshine, blue skies.

“There has not been a cloud in the sky since we got here, which is slightly unnerving but also quite jokes.”

He adds: “I want to attack this today, get up into the some of the 3,000 bits which are up yonder.

“Looking forward to a day scampering, we are not taking our packs today, for the last two days lugging up this God-forsaken valley, another day frolicking before schlepping over to the next valley.”

Rebecca Dimmock, the girlfriend of Aziz, called the pair “experienced hikers”.

She revealed she last spoke to her boyfriend at around 10am on New Year’s Day – shortly after the video was recorded, according to BBC reports.

Rebecca said: “He said his phone was about to die but he would write back to me properly soon.

“I know they made it to the hut, and they were drinking red wine, but he said it was freezing.”

Breaking down into tears this morning on Good Morning Britain, Rebecca shared the anguish their loved ones were experiencing.

She said: “There’s just so many different possibilities and scenarios, that’s the hardest thing. It doesn’t make sense and we don’t know what decisions they have made.”

Rebecca added: “They are really experienced, they have been to some really harsh conditions.”

Crystal Palace FC also appealed for information to help find the duo as Aziz works for the club’s official Palace For Life charity.