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Michael Mosley: Divers searching for TV doctor on Greek island as disappearance described as ‘strange’
Divers are searching for TV doctor Michael Mosley after he went missing while on holiday on the Greek island of Symi.
A local Facebook group said Mosley, known for appearing on programmes like This Morning and The One Show, went for a walk from Saint Nikolas Beach at about 1.30pm Greek time on Wednesday.
The doctor had been missing for just over 48 hours, as of Friday afternoon.
More people joined the search when it resumed this morning – and Symi deputy mayor Ilias Chaskas said “divers are looking in the water”.
Symi’s coastguard said around five patrol boats, as well as private and commercial vessels in the area, were also now involved in the operation.
Symi is a Greek island not far from Rhodes
Police and firefighters have also used drones to scan the island, which is about 25 miles north of Rhodes, while a helicopter was deployed at about 7pm local time on Thursday.
The search was paused overnight, but police said “more men will be coming” on Friday.
“The search continues today with seven firefighters, one drone checking the wider area, and we are cooperating with the Hellenic Police Office,” a spokesperson for the Greek fire services said.
They also confirmed police are using sniffer dogs in the search for the missing Briton.
The helicopter’s movements in the search on Thursday night. Pic: flightradar24
Mosley ‘may have taken shortcuts’
Mosley and his wife Clare travelled to the island with another couple on Tuesday for a week’s holiday, the Athens-based newspaper Kathimerini reported.
The next day, the four of them took a boat and went for a swim at Saint Nikolas Beach – however, Mosley preferred to return from the beach on foot, the paper added.
Firefighters involved in the search
Police are considering all possibilities, including that Mosley had an accident or fall – or suffered a snake bite, Greek news website ekathimerini.com reported.
The area where the presenter went missing is considered “difficult, as it is quite rocky” – Symi mayor Lefteris Papakalodoukas told the news website.
He described the heat on the island on Wednesday as “unbearable and one could easily faint in such conditions”.
The mayor added that Mosley “wanted to walk back from the beach, but that’s a distance of about an hour-and-a-half”, adding: “There are shortcuts he may have taken.”
Read more about missing TV doctor:
What we know about his last known movements
A helicopter scours the coastline. Pic: Panormitis Chatzigiannakis/via Reuters
A statement from local police, which has been translated, said officers were informed about the “disappearance of the 67-year-old British national on the island” two days ago. It is reported Mosley’s wife had raised the alarm.
Police asked for assistance from the Greek fire service, with firefighters, a vehicle and a drone team arriving from Rhodes at about 2pm yesterday.
Drones are also being used to find the missing Briton
Disappearance ‘very strange’
The rescue operation is focusing on the Pedi area of the island after a woman reported seeing him there on Wednesday.
Another woman in the area said Mosley’s disappearance was “strange” as the path he was thought to be on is “clear”.
“It’s a quiet place… if you see the map of the area it’s a clear path, it’s nothing dangerous,” she said.
“Many people go every day, every few minutes, that’s the reason it’s very strange because it’s a clear path.”
Firefighters are part of the ongoing search
Adriana Shum, who shared the Facebook appeal yesterday, said in a later comment on the social media post that Mosley reportedly “left his phone at his accommodation”.
“The police, coastguard and EDOK, the mountain rescue people, are all searching plus all the locals are aware and keeping a look out,” she wrote.
“These days it should be pretty difficult to get lost on Symi as so many of the paths have been surfaced and there is a lot more activity even in the most remote areas,” she added.
Mosley with wife Clare. Pic: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
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Before the search was halted on Thursday night, she wrote: “Apparently he was sighted at Kamares so he made it that far.
“My husband has just spent two hours searching every public route in the valley by torchlight, calling his name, and has now joined EDOK to continue the search.”
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who is missing in Greece and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Co-star ‘sick with worry’
Mosley is known for being a columnist for the Daily Mail and has made a number of films about diet and exercise.
The broadcaster fronted the Channel 4 show Michael Mosley: Who Made Britain Fat? and was part of the BBC series Trust Me, I’m A Doctor.
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From February: Dr Michael Mosley promotes show
Trust Me I’m A Doctor star Saleyha Ahsan wrote on social media the news was “shocking” and she was hoping Mosley would be “found safe”.
“I literally feel sick with worry,” Ahsan added. “Don’t even know what to say.”
On Thursday’s edition of The One Show, presenter Alex Jones opened the programme by saying that “lots of us are concerned to hear our friend Michael Mosley has gone missing whilst on holiday in Greece”.
“Our thoughts are very much with his wife Clare and the rest of his family at this worrying time. We hope for more positive news,” she added.
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Radio 2 presenter and Channel 5 talk show host Jeremy Vine wrote in a social media post: “I’m praying this lovely man is found and thinking of Clare and the whole Mosley family.”
MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis wrote on X: “Feeling disturbed about the news about Dr Michael Mosley. I hope he’s ok.”