Renowned TV presenter Michael Mosley, best known for popularizing the 5:2 diet, has gone missing while on holiday on the Greek island of Symi. A large-scale search and rescue operation is currently underway.
On Wednesday, Mosley, 67, left his wife on the beach and set off on a walk towards the center of Symi. He has not been seen since, prompting his wife to report him missing. Greek police found his phone in their accommodation, a police spokesperson told BBC News.
The search effort includes a police dog, a drone, and a helicopter dispatched from Athens. Firefighters from nearby Rhodes have also joined the search alongside local volunteers and police officers. The focus of the search is on the Pedi area of Symi after a woman reported seeing him there on Wednesday. Despite the intensive search, Symi’s mayor, Eleftherios Papakalodoukas, stated that it seems unlikely Mosley is still in the area. “It is a very small, controlled area, full of people. So if something happened to him there, we would have found him by now,” he told BBC News.
The rescue operation is particularly challenging due to the rocky terrain surrounding the Agios Nikolaos beach. Temperatures reached over 40°C (104°F) on Wednesday, making conditions even more difficult. Local residents are puzzled as to why Mosley would embark on a hike without his phone to navigate, especially in such challenging conditions.
Michael Mosley is celebrated for his work on the BBC series Trust Me, I’m A Doctor and appearances on BBC’s The One Show and ITV’s This Morning. His innovative approach to health and science broadcasting, including living with tapeworms for six weeks for his documentary Infested! Living With Parasites, has garnered him numerous awards, including an Emmy for the BBC science documentary The Human Face.
I’m praying this lovely man is found and thinking of Claire and the whole Mosley family.
🟥BBC News – TV doctor Michael Mosley missing in Greecehttps://t.co/WjRTTGERoM
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) June 6, 2024
Reacting to the news, Mosley’s colleagues and friends expressed their concern. Dr. Saleyha Ahsan, his co-star on Trust Me, I’m A Doctor, said she was “praying he is found safe” and felt “sick with worry”. Jeremy Vine, who has featured Mosley on his BBC Radio 2 programme, posted on social media, “I’m praying this lovely man is found and thinking of Clare and the whole Mosley family.” On The One Show, presenter Alex Jones expressed her concern, stating, “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.”
The UK Foreign Office is supporting Mosley’s family and remains in contact with local authorities. As the search continues, hopes remain high for a positive outcome in this worrying situation.
