Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Search for Brit missing in Dolomites continues after body found in snow

Ground teams found the body of Sam Harris in the area of Passo di Conca on Wednesday

Ellie Crabbe
Saturday 11 January 2025 11:57 EST
Aziz Ziriat (left) and Sam Harris (right), who went missing in Italy’s Dolomite mountains (Family handout/PA)
Aziz Ziriat (left) and Sam Harris (right), who went missing in Italy’s Dolomite mountains (Family handout/PA) (PA Media)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A close friend of a British hiker who has been missing in the Dolomites for more than a week said “there is an acceptance that it won’t be good news”.

Sam Harris, 35, and Aziz Ziriat, 36, both from London, had not been heard from since January 1.

The body of Mr Harris was found in the Passo di Conca area on Wednesday, rescuers said.

Joe Stone, a university friend of Mr Ziriat, saidthat authorities are “trying everything” to find the 36-year-old who has now been missing for 10 days.

“There is an acceptance among us that it’s not going to be good news,” Mr Stone said on Saturday.

“But it would be really nice to find him and be put out of this limbo.”

Aziz Ziriat, 36, and Sam Harris, 35, both from London, had not been heard from since January 1 (Family hanout/PA)
Aziz Ziriat, 36, and Sam Harris, 35, both from London, had not been heard from since January 1 (Family hanout/PA) (PA Media)

The pair’s last known location had been a mountain hut called Casina Dosson, close to the town of Tione Di Trento, near Riva Del Garda on Lake Garda.

Italy’s National Alpine Cliff and Cave Rescue Corps (CNSAS) said on Saturday that the search for Mr Ziriat, who works for Crystal Palace’s charity Palace For Life, resumed at first light.

Around 40 rescuers have been airlifted to high altitudes and are digging into the snow to search for Mr Ziriat in the area where Mr Harris’s body was found.

A map of the area:

On Wednesday, the alpine rescue service said ground teams had found a body in the area of Passo di Conca “sadly deceased, buried under the snow”.

The rescue teams had been searching the area after tracking a “phone of one of the two mountaineers”.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said on Friday: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in northern Italy and are in contact with the local authorities.”

Palace For Life posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying: “We are aware of reports that the body of Sam Harris has been recovered.

“We are devastated to receive this news and our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to his loved ones.

“No further information is currently available regarding the whereabouts of Aziz.”

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in