The body of British hiker Aziz Ziriat has been found in the Italian Dolomites, five months after he went missing on New Year’s Eve.
The 36-year-old vanished alongside friend Samuel Harris, 35, during a trek in the mountain range.
Ziriat’s remains were discovered today during a rescue search that was launched back in January after he disappeared.
The Trentino Alpine and Speleological Rescue team released a statement confirming they are now recovering his body.
Aziz Ziriat’s remains were discovered today during a rescue search that was launched back in January after he disappeared
PA/HANDOUT
Ziriat worked for Crystal Palace FC’s official Palace For Life charity.
His friend Harris was found dead in January, with his body covered under deep layers of snow.
Ziriat’s family have been informed of the discovery, according to the mountain rescue organisation.
The rescue search had been ongoing since the pair first disappeared during their New Year trek.
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The search has been put on pause overnight, although poor weather conditions have hindered the operation PA/FAMILY HANDOUTZiriat’s mobile phone, card and glasses were all discovered close to Harris’ body earlier this year, but no sign of him was found at that time.
Family and friends of both men had flown out to the Italian region to help with the rescue efforts following their disappearance.
The mountain rescue teams continued their search operations in the challenging Alpine terrain where the friends had last been seen.
The friends were known to have been near the town of Tione Di Trento, Lake Garda, before they went missing.
Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico Trentino
Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico Trentino
The pair failed to get on their flight back home on January 6, and they had stopped answering their phones.
The last known location of the duo was near a mountain hut called Casina Dosson, close to the town of Tione Di Trento.
Their families later revealed the men planned to go between huts in the mountain range for a special New Year’s hike.
Both men were described as experienced hikers who had undertaken the challenging Alpine trek as part of their New Year celebrations.
Video shared with The Telegraph showed Ziriat preparing to hike the mountain range with Harris 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 said: “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.”
Rebecca Dimmock, Ziriat’s girlfriend, revealed she last spoke to her boyfriend on New Year’s Day.
She 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.”
