UK
Michael Mosley: ‘Race against time’ in search for TV doctor as rescuers shift focus to mountainous path
The search for missing TV doctor Michael Mosley has become a “race against time”, as rescuers shifted focus to a mountainous path.
CCTV images have emerged showing the 67-year-old at 2pm on Wednesday, half an hour after he left Saint Nikolas Beach on the Greek island of Symi.
Having gone to the beach with his wife Clare and another couple, Dr Mosley preferred to return on foot, according to Athens-based newspaper Kathimerini.
He was spotted in the Pedi area of the island, a small town in a bay around 1.2km from the beach.
Separate CCTV footage seen by rescuers from a house at the edge of Pedi appears to show him entering a mountainous path heading inland, rather than following the coast or taking a more direct route towards the centre of the island.
One of the rescuers said Mr Mosley’s decision was “inexplicable”, as it would have taken a fit young person three hours to walk.
Dr Michael Mosley with wife Clare. Pic: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
“The path is not easy to follow, if he took a wrong turn, he would be lost,” she said of the little-used path.
“He could be anywhere, it is a race against time.”
The hunt for Mosley resumed at 6am on Saturday, with firefighters scouring a 6.5km radius over a mountainous area, which search organiser Manolis Tsimpoukas described as “very dangerous”.
Meanwhile, the mayor’s daughter Mika Papakalodouka said it can reach temperatures of 40C outside so “it’s easy to get dizzy”.
Read more about missing TV doctor: What we know about his last known movements
Ms Papakalodouka, whose father Eleftherios Papakalodouka has been mayor of Symi for 22 years, said the island has around 300 permanent residents.
“It is a small island, people talk. We’re good people actually here. Everybody is looking for him,” the 20-year-old said.
“It’s such a small island to get lost on. It’s so weird for us. Everybody is worried and looking for him.”
The first CCTV images – captured by a restaurant in Pedi – appear to show Dr Mosley wearing a dark t-shirt, shorts and a cap. He is carrying an umbrella.
Dr Mosley, his wife and the other couple arrived in Symi for a week’s holiday on Tuesday, according to local media.
The search for the doctor has been ongoing since Wednesday afternoon.
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The ongoing search
The search has so far seen all of Symi’s coastguard patrol boats deployed while private and commercial vessels in the area have also helped.
Map of the Greek island Symi
Police and firefighters have used drones to scan the island and a helicopter was deployed on Thursday. Divers have been looking in the water and sniffer dogs have also been used.
Locals have assisted police in the search
Authorities have considered a number of possibilities, including Dr Mosley may have suffered a fall – or could have been bitten by a snake, Greek news website ekathimerini.com reported.
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Dr Mosley is a columnist and broadcaster who has made a number of films about diet and exercise.
He fronted the Channel 4 show Michael Mosley: Who Made Britain Fat? and was part of the BBC series Trust Me, I’m A Doctor. He has also appeared on numerous daytime television shows.