Via Joe Inwood in Symi and André Rhoden-Paul in London, BBC news
BBCThe wife of TV and radio presenter Dr Michael Mosley has paid tribute to her husband after his body was found, following days of searching on the Greek island of Symi.
Dr Clare Bailey Mosley said in a statement confirming his death: “So saddened to have lost my wonderful, funny, kind and intelligent husband, Michael.”
She said her husband took a wrong turn and fell.
The 67-year-old man went missing on Wednesday after setting out for a walk from Agios Nikolaos beach.
His body was found on a hillside near the Agia Marina beach bar in the early hours of Sunday.
“We are comforted by the fact that he almost succeeded,” Dr. Bailey Mosley said in a statement.
“He made an incredible climb, went the wrong way and fell where the extended search team could not easily see.
“Michael was an adventurous man, which is part of what made him special.”
She also thanked the “extraordinary people” on Symi who worked “tirelessly” to help find him.
Mayor Symi Eleftherios Papakalodouka said the body was found while teams were searching the coast using cameras.
A police source told BBC News that the deceased had been dead “for several days”.
The body was found next to a fence, with an umbrella nearby, about 30 minutes’ walk from the village of Pedi where Dr Mosley was last seen.
That is a few meters from where children were playing in the water at Agia Marina beach.
A bar manager accompanying journalists found the body, the PA news agency reported, after the island’s mayor “saw something” by the bar’s fence and alerted staff.
Agia Marina bar manager Ilias Tsavaris said: “They called me and said ‘You know what, we saw something in the distance, can you go check it out’. So I went there.
“So when I walked up, I saw what looked like a body.”
He added that rescuers searched the area every day by helicopter.
A police officer who was part of the team trying to recover Dr. Mosley’s body, apparently suffered a broken leg and was transported by boat.
Investigators are currently examining the body. Police spokeswoman Konstantia Dimoglidou told the BBC that authorities had to rule out any possibility that the death was the result of a criminal act.
“We need to have the first insight into the cause of death and whether [it] before the person fell to the ground,” Ms. Dimoglidou said.
On Saturday, BBC News obtained CCTV footage showing one of the last sightings of a man believed to be Dr Mosley walking with an umbrella next to the marina in the village of Pedi on Wednesday.
Greek authorities conducted an extensive search for Dr. Mosley for 5 days in high temperature conditions.
The effort includes firefighters, dogs, helicopters, drones, local residents and officers from Symi and outside the island.
The presenter’s four children also joined his wife, Dr. Clare Bailey Mosley, on the island.
Dr Mosley was first reported missing after he left Agios Nikolaos beach for a walk at around 1.30pm local time (11.30 BST).
His wife later reported him missing.
Dr. Bailey Mosley added in her statement that she was “incredibly comforted by the outpouring of love” from people around the world.
“It’s clear that Michael meant a lot to so many of you,” she said.
Dr Mosley studied medicine in London and qualified as a doctor and eventually two decade has worked as a presenter, documentary producer, journalist and author.
He is known for television shows including Trust Me, I’m a Doctor and the BBC Radio 4 podcast Just One Thing.
He is often appears on BBC One’s The One Show and ITV’s This Morning, and is a columnist for the Daily Mail.
Dr Saleyha Ahsan, co-host of Trust Me, I’m A Doctor, told BBC News he was a “national treasure” and an “extremely talented” person.
She also praised his “passion for explaining science to a wider audience”, adding that he made it “accessible to anyone and everyone, not just one person”. appropriate scientific crowd”.
Dr. Mosley is also known for popularizing the 5:2 and Fast 800 diets, which advocate intermittent fasting and low-carbohydrate meals.
His diet has attracted a lot of attention in the past, both for its methods and scientific accuracy.
Although qualified as a doctor, Mosley is no longer registered as a medical doctor.
Timeline
Wednesday, 13:30 local time (11:30 BST) – Dr Michael Mosley left his wife Clare on Agios Nikolaos beach and started walking
1350 – Man carrying umbrella seen on CCTV in Pedi
1357 – The same man is seen again at the Pedi marina heading northeast
Thursday 1115 – Police cannot find the presenter so they notify Athens and request assistance from the Greek fire department
1400 – Greek firefighters, with six firefighters and a drone team, arrive in Symi
1900 – Helicopters were deployed to assist in the search
Friday – Divers join the underwater search around Symi
Saturday 06:00 – Firefighters continue to search for Dr. Mosley
1400 – His wife Clare says the Mosley family “will not lose hope” and thanks those involved in the search
Sunday – Authorities searching for Dr. Mosley found the body
Additional reporting by Nikos Papanikolaou
