Two British men shared a video of themselves planning to scale 3,000-metre-high mountains before they went missing in Italy nearly a week ago, it has been revealed.
It has also been disclosed that the pair planned to set off on the hike without their usual large packs.
An urgent search is underway for Aziz Ziriat, 36, and Samuel Harris, 35, from London, who were last heard from on New Year’s Day whilst on a hiking trip in the Dolomites.
Their last known location was near a mountain hut named Casina Dosson, close to the town of Tione Di Trento, near Lake Garda, on the morning of January 1.
In a video, which has been shared with MailOnline, Mr Ziriat can be heard discussing plans to climb 3,000 metre mountains.
Speaking into the camera as he stands outside the mountain hut in his flip-flops, Mr Ziriat says: ‘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.’
‘I want to attack this today, get up into the some of the 3,000 bits which are up yonder.’
‘Looking forward to a day scampering, we are not taking our packs today, for the last two days lugging up this God-forsaken valley, another day frolicking before schlepping over to the next valley,’ he adds.
One of the two men who vanished in the Dolomites with a pal shared a video just moments before he set off on a hike.
Aziz Ziriat (pictured), 36, and Sam Harris, 35, were hiking in the Dolomites mountains in northeastern Italy on January 1, but they haven’t been seen or heard from since
An image of the mountain hut where the men where staying that was included in Mr Ziriat’s video
Ziriat, who works for Crystal Palace’s foundation Palace for Life, and Harris (pictured) missed their return flight to Britain yesterday
Footage is also included of the ‘World War One bunker’ Mr Ziriat and Mr Harris stayed in before going missing.
The 36-year-old, who works for Crystal Palace’s foundation Palace for Life, is believed to have sent more messages home after the clip was filmed.
Italian authorities have begun a frantic search and rescue operation to find the friends but recent snowfall has made it difficult to reach the area.
Mr Ziriat and Mr Harris were due to catch a flight home to the UK on January 6 but failed to turn up.
The pair are long-term friends having both attended Teddington School in Teddington in southwest London.
Ziriat, who is described as being 6’3, was a student at the University of Brighton, while Harris, who is 5’11, went to Oxford Brookes.
An urgent appeal has been launched by family and friends to find the pair with Crystal Palace FC also asking for help to locate their employee.
‘We are appealing for anyone familiar with the area, who can provide assistance or information, to get in touch,’ the club said in a statement today.
The club further posted descriptions of the Ziriat and Harris, including a picture of the clothes Harris is believed to have been wearing.
A screenshot from the video that Mr Ziriat filmed before setting off on his hike
Descriptions have been shared of the Ziriat and Harris, including a picture of the clothes Harris is believed to have been wearing
Crystal Palace has asked fans to share pictures and information of the two missing Britons on social media.
Mustafa Suleyman, the chief executive of Microsoft’s AI division, also posted an appeal to find Ziriat and Harris on LinkedIn: ‘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.’
Friends of the two missing Britons and Ziriat’s girlfriend are flying to the region from London tonight to help with the search.
Alpine Rescue, Guardia di Finanza Rescue, Carabinieri and the local fire brigade are involved in the search for Ziriat and Harris, but recent snowfall was making it difficult for teams to reach the area.
Local authorities reportedly said that it was unusual for hikers to go missing in the Dolomites in January.
If anyone has any information or knows the area and can help, please dial 999 and reference CAD 0197/07 Jan25.