FAMILY OF FORMER TEDDINGTON SCHOOL PUPIL ISSUE STATEMENT AFTER BODY DISCOVERY
The family of mountain hiker Aziz Ziriat, a former pupil at Teddington School who died on an Italian mountain range have said in a statement they are “heartbroken” after his body was discovered.
Aziz Ziriat, 36, went missing while hiking in the Dolomites with his lifelong friend Sam Harris, also from Teddington, on New Year’s Day.
His body was found by a rescue team searching a rocky crevice about 400m (1,300ft) below where Mr Harris’s body was discovered almost five months ago.
Mr Ziriat’s family said: “Whilst we are relieved to have finally found him, there are no words to describe how heartbroken we are to lose our beloved Aziz.”
The family said the past few months had been “incredibly difficult for everyone who knew and loved him”.
“But we have been comforted by the overwhelming love we have received – we will be eternally grateful for everyone’s support,” they added.
They also expressed “heartfelt thanks and deepest gratitude” to the alpine rescue team, the firefighters, police and volunteers who had “all worked tirelessly, in challenging and dangerous conditions” to find his body.
The family added: “Being with Aziz was to witness his deep connection with and appreciation of life.
“He lived every moment with optimism, good humour and humility; he was, and still is, loved by so many.”
Mr Harris’s body was discovered on 8 January.
The friends had not been heard from since 1 January and they did not check in for their flight home on 6 January.
Their last known location was near a mountain hut called Casina Dosson, close to the town of Tione Di Trento, near Riva Del Garda on Lake Garda.
Mr Ziriat’s body was found on Saturday in the Passo di Conca area by specialist search teams including a canine unit, Trentino Alpine and Speleological Rescue confirmed.
A spokesman said the rescuers “lowered themselves down the wall below the base of the slope, where the dog finally signalled the missing man’s body in a rocky crevice, where it had been covered by snow”.