Rescue crews found the body of a British hiker buried in the snow of the Italian Alps and were continuing to search for his friend, who had also been missing since January 1, Italy’s rescue services said Wednesday.

Aziz Ziriat, 36, and Sam Harris, 35, have not been seen or heard from since 1 January, as they prepared to go on a hike in the Trentino mountain region of northern Italy. They later missed their return flight to London on 6 January, sparking an urgent search and rescue operation. They had not checked into their flight either.

Two British hikers have been missing in Italy’s Dolomite mountains after being last heard from on New Year’s Day. Aziz Ziriat, 36, and Samuel Harris, 35, from London, last sent messages to their loved ones in the late afternoon of January 1 from the Trentino region.