By Joe Inwood in Symi and André Rhoden-Paul in London, BBC News
The wife of TV and radio presenter Dr Michael Mosley has paid tribute to her husband after his body was discovered following days of searching on the Greek island of Symi.
“It is devastating to have lost Michael, my wonderful, funny, kind and brilliant husband,” Dr. Clare Bailey Mosley said in a statement confirming his death.
She said her husband took the wrong path and collapsed.
The 67-year-old disappeared on Wednesday after going for a walk from Agios Nikolaos beach.
His body was found on a hill near the Agia Marina beach bar in the early hours of Sunday.
Dr Bailey Mosley said: “We have had an incredibly lucky life together.
“We loved each other very much and were so happy together.”
Dr Mosley was first reported missing after leaving Agios Nikolaos beach to go for a walk around 1.30pm local time (11.30am BST) on Wednesday.
CCTV footage – presumably from Dr. Mosley – shows that he walked to the other side of the bay in the midst of intense heat and through rocky terrain, making it an arduous journey.
“We are heartened by the fact that he almost made it,” his wife said.
“It made an incredible climb, took the wrong path and collapsed where it could not be easily seen by the vast search team.
“Michael was an adventurous man, that’s part of what made him so special.”
She also thanked the “extraordinary” people in Symi who worked “tirelessly” to find her husband.
Symi Mayor Eleftherios Papakalodouka said the body was found while teams were searching the coastline with cameras.
A police source told BBC News that the deceased had been dead “for several days”.
Dr. Mosley was found near a fence, with an umbrella nearby, about a 30-minute walk from the village of Pedi where he was last seen.
A bar manager who was with journalists discovered the body, the PA news agency reported, after the island’s mayor “saw something” near the bar’s fence and alerted staff.
Ilias Tsavaris, bar manager at Agia Marina, said: “They called me, they said ‘You know what, we saw something far away, you can go check it out’.
“So when I got there, I saw something that looked like a body.”
A police officer, who was part of the team tasked with recovering Dr. Mosley’s body, apparently broke his leg during the mission.
A coroner has now examined the body. Police spokeswoman Konstantia Dimoglidou said BBC authorities had to rule out any possibility that the death was the result of foul play.
Greek authorities conducted extensive searches for Dr Mosley over five days amid high temperatures.
The effort involved firefighters, dogs, helicopters, drones, local people and officers from Symi and off-island.
The presenter’s four children also joined his wife on the island.
Dr. Clare Bailey Mosley added in her statement that she was “extremely comforted by the outpouring of love” from people around the world.
“It’s clear that Michael meant a lot to many of you,” she said.
Dr Mosley studied medicine in London and qualified as a doctor. two For decades he worked as a presenter, documentarian, journalist and author.
He was known for his television programs including Trust Me, I’m a Doctor and the BBC Radio 4 podcast Just One Thing.
Charlotte Moore, the BBC’s head of content, said the corporation’s thoughts were with Dr Mosley’s family and friends.
She said: “He was a brilliant science broadcaster and program maker, able to simplify the most complex topics, but he was also passionate about engaging and entertaining audiences, inspiring us all to live healthier lives and more fulfilled.”
Dr Saleyha Ahsan, his Trust Me, I’m A Doctor co-presenter, told BBC News he was a “national treasure” and an “extremely talented” man.
She also praised his “passion for explaining science to a wider audience”, adding that he made it “accessible to everyone, not just a specialist scientific audience”.
Professor Brian Cox said on X, formerly Twitter, that Dr Mosley was a “mentor” to other science presenters.
“And as many of our colleagues here have already said, he was a truly charming man,” he added.
Dr. Mosley was also known for popularizing the 5:2 and Fast 800 diets, which advocate intermittent fasting and low-carb meals.
His diets have attracted a lot of attention in the past, both for their methods and their scientific accuracy.
Chronology
Wednesday 1:30 p.m. local time (11:30 a.m. BST) – Dr Michael Mosley leaves his wife Clare on Agios Nikolaos beach and goes for a walk
1:50 p.m. – A man carrying an umbrella is seen on CCTV in Pedi
1357 – The same man is seen again at Pedi Marina heading northeast
Thursday 11:15 a.m. – The police cannot find the presenter, so they inform Athens and ask for help from the Greek firefighters.
2:00 p.m. – Greek firefighters, with six firefighters and a drone team, arrive in Symi
1900 – Helicopter deployed to facilitate searches
Friday – Divers join searches in waters around Symi
Saturday 6:00 a.m. – Firefighters resume Dr. Mosley’s search
2:00 p.m. – His wife Clare says the Mosley family “won’t give up hope” and thanks those involved in the search.
Sunday – Authorities searching for Dr. Mosley find body
Additional reporting by Nikos Papanikolaou and Sofia Ferreira Santos
