Body found in search for missing TV doctor Michael Mosley who vanished on Greek holiday island
A BODY has been found in the search for missing TV doctor Michael Mosley who vanished on the Greek island of Symi on Wednesday.
The Sun understands it was found with an umbrella close to a dangerous cave complex known to locals as “The Abyss”.
The remains are awaiting formal identification.
Police officials say they believe the body to be that of the missing Brit TV presenter.
Mosley, 67, had been last seen in haunting CCTV footage at 2pm on Wednesday leaving the village of Pedi and headed towards a rocky path.
For five days, the health expert seemingly disappeared without a trace, prompting a major search operation involving helicopters, divers, dogs, and drones.
It was believed Dr Mosley left the beach at Saint Nikolas where he had been with his wife Clare and two friends before walking back alone without his mobile phone to Pedi.
The CCTV, which was released on Saturday, shows he carried on through the fishing village and headed towards a rocky path in blazing temperatures of up to 37C.
He had appeared in earlier footage at 1.52pm close a cafe in Pedi shielding himself underneath a umbrella.
Rescuers feared he may have taken a wrong turn while trying to get back to his accommodation in the town of Symi.
He was initially feared by cops to have “fallen from a height” as he walked a rocky path leading from the beach to Pedi.
However, the footage made clear he made it to village safely and was potentially attempting a much longer route home than previously thought.
Following the footage, police on Friday night shifted their search away from the water and into the mountains.
A rescue worker said Mosley’s apparent decision to walk up into the mountains in the heat was “inexplicable”.
“The path is not easy to follow. If he took a wrong turn, he would be lost.
“He could be anywhere. It is a race against time.”
Firefighters were seen searching a maze of tunnels on Saturday dubbed “The Abyss” over fears he may have got lost and fallen within the caverns.
The network of water-filled “bottomless” tunnels lie close to Agia Marina – where the search was concentrated on Saturday.
Mosley’s wife Dr Clare Bailey, 62, released an emotional statement on Saturday saying her family would “not lose hope”.
“It has been three days since Michael left the beach to go for a walk. The longest and most unbearable days for myself and my children.
“The search is ongoing and our family are so incredibly grateful to the people of Symi, the Greek authorities and the British Consulate who are working tirelessly to help find Michael.
“We will not lose hope.”
Timeline of Dr Mosley's disappearance
WEDNESDAY JUNE 5
- 1.30pm: Dr Mosley decides to walk home alone to his holiday home in the town of Symi after going for a swim at a beach
- 1.50pm: The walk home is said to take around 20 minutes from Saint Nikolaos beach despite the doctor never making it back
- 1.52pm: CCTV catches Dr Mosley walking past a shop in Pedi
- Approx 2.20pm: Witnesses claim to have seen Dr Mosley talking to an elderly man in the town with one other person present
- 2.30pm-5pm: Doc was last seen on a house camera on a treacherous path heading towards the Agia Marina
- 7.30pm: Dr Mosley’s wife, Dr Clare Bailey, raises the alarm and calls cops
THURSDAY JUNE 6
- 10.30am: Police file missing person report and the search gets underway
- 11am: Police appeal for any information
- 2pm: Six firefighters, a vehicle and a drone team were all seen arriving in Symi from Rhodes
- 7pm: Helicopters deployed over the island
- 8pm: First day of the search called off for the night
FRIDAY JUNE 7
- 7am Extra police squadrons, coast guard officials, specially-trained sniffer dogs and military helicopters helped in the search
- 5pm The first CCTV images are released of Dr Mosley with his umbrella near the Blue Corner bar
SATURDAY JUNE 8
- 7am Police launch a search of a new area of around 7km as they step up the hunt
- 10.50am: New CCTV is released showing Mosley leaving Pedi and heading towards mountainous path
- 11am Symi’s mayor says ‘no chance’ search will be called off until he is found
- 12pm Mosley’s wife Clare says the family will ‘not lose hope‘ but confesses the last few days have been ‘unbearable’
- 3pm A helicopter joins the search effort in the mountains
The couple’s four children – Alexander, Jack, Daniel and Katherine – arrived on the island on Friday to join the search efforts.
The longstanding Mayor Eleftherios Papakalodouka said this afternoon that “troubling questions” remain about Mosley’s movements on Wednesday.
“Why did he leave the beach and his wife and friends? he asked, adding: “Why did he not take his telephone?
“He seemed to be walking very determinedly, surely it would have been better to stop and have a coffee or some water but no he decided to carry on.”
Search teams and the mayor both told The Sun the walking route can be incredibly “dangerous” and “treacherous” with no shade.
Mayor Papakalodouka added that Mosley had no water, stating: “You can’t survive in this weather.”
Describing the mountainous route, he said: “The area is so difficult to walk. It’s so rocky.
“He wouldn’t have known where he was going. He could have got lost.”
Who is Dr Michael Mosley?
BY Henry Holloway, Deputy Foreign Editor
DR MICHAEL Mosley is a TV presenter and health expert known for his work with the BBC – with regular appearances on The One Show.
He is a diet expert who advocated for intermittent fasting, low-carb diets and has written books promoting keto.
Born in India, he studied philosophy, politics and economics and worked as a banker before graduating from medical school.
He joined the BBC in 1985 as an assistant producer, and quickly rose through the ranks – becoming a popular presenter.
Dr Michael worked on programmes such The Human Face with Professor Robert Winston – and Inventions that Changed The World with Jeremy Clarkson.
Eventually fronting his own shows and regularly appearing on breakfast television, he gained a reputation as a diet guru.
He also hosted the BBC podcast Just One Thing.
The TV star is married to Clare Bailey, a GP, and they have four children.