British television presenter Michael Mosley has been found deceased on the Greek island of Symi after a days-long search, his family has confirmed.
Mosley disappeared while on holiday on Symi, situated in the eastern Aegean Sea, approximately 6.5 kilometers from Turkey. The discovery of his body on a rocky coast was made by a private boat, according to a police spokesman who requested anonymity due to the ongoing investigation. Formal identification is pending.
In a statement released shortly after the discovery, Dr. Clare Bailey Mosley, Michael Mosley's wife, explained that her husband had taken a wrong route on a hike and collapsed in an area that was difficult to see.
"Michael was an adventurous man, and it's part of what made him so special," Dr. Bailey Mosley stated. "Losing Michael, my wonderful, funny, kind, and brilliant husband, is devastating. We shared an incredibly fortunate life together, full of love and happiness."
Dr. Bailey Mosley expressed gratitude to the residents of Symi, who conducted a tireless search and rescue operation since Wednesday. "People on the island, many of whom had never heard of Michael, worked from dawn till dusk unasked," she said. "The outpouring of love from people around the world has been a huge comfort to my family and me. It's clear that Michael meant a great deal to so many."
Antonis Mystiloglou, a cameraman with state TV ERT who was on the boat, reported that the body was found with a leather bag in one hand. Mosley, aged 67, had been on a coastal walk along Saint Nicholas Beach on Wednesday afternoon during his holiday on the island, which is a popular destination for hikers.
Mosley was a well-known figure in Britain, regularly appearing on television and radio and writing a column for the Daily Mail. Internationally, he was recognized for his 2013 book, The Fast Diet, co-authored with journalist Mimi Spencer. The "5:2 diet" proposed losing weight by minimizing calorie intake for two days a week while eating healthily on the other five days.
Earlier, search efforts had focused on a complex network of tunnels known as 'The Abyss'. At least 100 rescuers and volunteers, including a helicopter, searched the area between Agios Nikolaos and the island's main town in an effort to locate Mosley.
In her statement, Dr. Bailey Mosley described the days during which her husband was missing as "the longest and most unbearable." She expressed immense gratitude to the people of Symi, the Greek authorities, and the British consulate for their relentless efforts. The couple's children also traveled to the island to assist in the search.
Mosley later introduced the Fast 800 diet, a rapid weight loss program, and produced several documentaries on diet and exercise. He was known for pushing his body to extremes to observe the effects of his diets, including living with tapeworms in his guts for six weeks for the BBC documentary Infested! Living With Parasites. Mosley is survived by his wife and their four children.
