The body of Michael Mosley, a British doctor and TV presenter, was discovered Sunday morning on the Greek island where he was last seen. The discovery followed an extensive search operation that began when Mosley vanished during a walk on Wednesday. Mosley was 67 years old.
“Michael was an adventurous man, it’s part of what made him so special,” his wife, Dr. Clare Bailey Mosley, told the Associated Press. “It’s devastating to have lost Michael, my wonderful, funny, kind and brilliant husband. We had an incredibly lucky life together. We loved each other very much and were so happy together.”
Mosley’s wife reported he took the wrong route during a hike and collapsed in a difficult-to-see location. Authorities later found a body during an extensive search but did not immediately confirm the identity.
The body was discovered on a rocky coastline by searchers aboard a private boat, approximately a 30-minute walk from the village of Pedi. Mosley was last seen in Pedi on Wednesday before his disappearance, according to various officials, including a police spokesperson who requested anonymity due to the ongoing investigation.
Formal identification is still pending. However, a police source informed the BBC that the individual had been deceased “for several days.”
Michael Mosley Had Been Missing Since Wednesday
Mosley disappeared Wednesday afternoon while walking on the Greek island of Symi. An extensive search operation was launched, involving the Coast Guard, police, fire officials, drones, a police dog, and a helicopter. The search continued for several days under high temperatures.
Lefteris Papakalodoukas, the mayor of the island, informed The Associated Press that a body was discovered near Agia Marina beach at approximately 10 a.m. He was on a boat with media members at the time of the sighting. “We zoomed with the cameras and saw it was him,” Papakalodoukas explained.
A coroner has examined the body, according to a BBC report. Police spokesperson Konstantia Dimoglidou informed the network that authorities need to rule out the possibility of foul play.
“We need to get a first insight into the causes of death and whether [it] preceded the person’s fall to the ground,” Dimoglidou said.
Mosley was a prominent British media figure known for his TV and radio appearances and Daily Mail column. In 2022, he was Emmy-nominated for executive producing the BBC science documentary The Human Face. The documentary featured Elizabeth Hurley, Pierce Brosnan, and David Attenborough.
Mosley gained international recognition for his 2013 book The Fast Diet, co-authored with journalist Mimi Spencer, which introduced the “5:2 diet.” This diet promotes weight loss by reducing calorie intake two days a week while eating healthily on the other five. He later developed a rapid weight loss program and created several films on diet and exercise.