An urgent search and rescue operation is underway for two British men who have gone missing on a hiking trip in the Dolomites.
Samuel Harris, 35, and Aziz Ziriat, 36, from London, were last heard from on 1 January after sending messages home from the mountainous Trentino region in northern Italy.
On New Year’s Day, Mr Ziriat sent his girlfriend videos of the hut they were staying at, called Casina Dosson, and there was no contact after that.
Friends and family grew worried when the pair did not check in for their flight, which arrived in London on Monday night.
Alpine Rescue, Guardia di Finanza Rescue, Carabinieri and the local fire brigade are all involved in the search but due to recent snowfall teams say they are having difficulty reaching the area.
Joseph Sheppard, a close friend of both Mr Ziriat and Mr Harris, was supposed to join them on their hike but was unable to in the end due to an injury. He last heard from them just before Christmas when he messaged to wish them a good trip.
Mr Sheppard said he expected that they wouldn’t be in regular contact as there wouldn’t be much signal and their phone batteries would die, but his worries intensified when he found out they didn’t make their flight back home.
He told The Independent: “They are the two loveliest people you’d ever meet in your life. They are warm people and everyone gravitates towards them – they both know how to make everyone feel special.
“I’m just so scared now – we all are.”
In a direct message to his two friends, Mr Sheppard said: “You need to know how loved you are by everyone here. So whatever situation you are in, and whatever the consequences, please know that you are loved by everyone for eternity.”
Authorities said it is unusual for hikers to go missing at this time of the year. Friends of the two men are flying out to the region from London this evening.
Appeals for information on the two men have also been posted on social media, including by Crystal Palace Football Club, where Mr Ziriat works.
A message on Crystal Palace’s official X (Twitter) account read: “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.”
Mustafa Suleyman, the chief executive of Microsoft’s AI division, also issued an appeal online on Tuesday.
In a post on LinkedIn, he wrote: “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.”
If anyone has any information or is able to support further please call 999 and reference CAD 0197/07 Jan25