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Friend praises hiker who died on Italian mountain

PA Media Aziz Ziriat, left, and Samuel Harris in shorts, t-shirt with large backpacks in front of a lake surrounded by mountainsPA Media
Samuel Harris (right) and Aziz Ziriat were last heard from on New Year's Day

The best friend of a British mountaineer who died in the Dolomites has paid tribute to him, and added that he had "no words to fully describe" how he was feeling.

Samuel Harris, 35, was reported missing along with his Aziz Ziriat, 36 on 6 January when they failed to check in for their flight home. The Londoners were last heard from on 1 January.

Last Wednesday, Mr Harris's body was found buried under the snow on the Italian mountain range. The search for Mr Ziriat is continuing.

On Sunday, Mr Harris's friend Spencer Jones said: "To say I am devastated would be an understatement."

Supplied by family Samuel Harris is pictured looking into the cameraSupplied by family
Mr Harris was an experienced mountaineer

Writing on Instagram, he continued: "The search is ongoing for our good friend Aziz Ziriat, so for now, I want to focus on Sam.

"He was an amazing friend of 23 years, ever since our school days.

"He was probably the most knowledgeable person I have ever known, and building the business with him has been an incredible journey."

Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico Trentino Rescuers search for the missing mountaineer Aziz Ziriat in the Adamello group. They are pictured wearing illuminous clothing. Snow is pictured in the foreground and trees in the background.Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico Trentino
More than 100 mountaineers are involved in the search operation

More than 140 people, from Alpine Rescue, Guardia di Finanza Rescue, Carabinieri and the local fire brigade are taking part in the search for Mr Ziriat.

Crews are continuing to probe the snow in an area of about 5,500 square metres, the CNSAS rescue service said, with the help of a dog unit.

They have been searching the area after tracking the mobile phones of the two mountaineers to where their backpacks were found on Wednesday.

On Saturday, Mr Ziriat's phone cover and card were found.

The search was stood down for the day after 15:00 GMT on Sunday as it began to get dark.

Family handout Aziz Ziriat, smiling, is pictured in front of a fence containing pink flowersFamily handout
The search for Aziz Ziriat is ongoing

In a statement released on Saturday afternoon, Mr Ziriat's family said: "We have been devastated by the tragic events of the last few days.

"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."

Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico Trentino Rescuers on the mountain carry out a fingertip search on the snowSoccorso Alpino e Speleologico Trentino
Searches are taking place near to where Mr Harris's body was found

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