The sister of a Brit who has been missing hiking in the Italian mountains with his friend since New Year’s Day has said she is desperate for an update on his whereabouts.
Brits Aziz Ziriat and Samuel Harris have not been missing since January 1. The pair had been hiking in the Dolomites mountains in northeastern Italy.
Miriam Ziriat has not heard from her brother Aziz but is waiting for more information while an urgent search is underway.
She told the Mailonline: “I’m just really, really concerned about them and just desperate to hear something about their whereabouts, just to hear that they’re okay. It’s just obviously very, very worrying.
‘It’s not unusual for us not to hear from him on these kind of trips. He has done these mountaineering trips and tracks before, but he is usually in a larger group – there are only two of them on this trip.”
A friend of the British hikers has also spoken out, saying friends and family are “waiting anxiously” for news and that “the next few hours are crucial” in the search.
He told the PA news agency: “They are experienced hikers and they go a couple of times a year. It wasn’t surprising that they had no signal as they like going off the grid.
“Alarm bells were raised though when they didn’t turn up for their flight on January 6.
“Helicopters are now searching two specific locations – two refuge huts. We think that’s going to be the best chance of success.
“We’re all waiting anxiously and the next few hours are crucial.”
This is a breaking story. More to follow.