A body has been discovered in the search for TV doctor Michael Mosley, who went missing on the Greek island of Symi on Wednesday.
The Sun reports the body was found near a dangerous cave complex, ominously known to locals as “The Abyss,” along with an umbrella. Formal identification of the remains is still pending.
Mosley, a renowned health expert, was last seen on surveillance footage at 2PM on Wednesday, leaving the village of Pedi and heading towards a rocky path.
For five days, the 67-year-old British TV presenter seemed to have disappeared without a trace, prompting an extensive search operation involving helicopters, divers, dogs, and drones.
It is believed Dr. Mosley left the beach at Saint Nikolas, where he had been with his wife Clare and two friends, before walking back alone to Pedi without his cell phone.
Released on Saturday, the surveillance footage shows him continuing through the fishing village and towards a rocky path in scorching temperatures of up to 98°F. Earlier footage at 1:52PM captured him near a cafe in Pedi, using an umbrella for shade.
Rescuers fear he might have taken a wrong turn while attempting to return to his accommodation in Symi town. Initially, police feared he had “fallen from a height” on the rocky path from the beach to Pedi. However, the footage confirmed he reached the village safely and may have been attempting a longer route home than previously thought.
Following the footage review, police redirected their search from the water to the mountains on Friday night.
A rescue worker described Mosley’s decision to walk into the mountains in the heat as “inexplicable.” “The path is not easy to follow. If he took a wrong turn, he would be lost. He could be anywhere. It is a race against time.”
On Saturday, firefighters scoured a maze of tunnels, referred to as “The Abyss,” fearing he might have become lost and fallen within the caverns. These water-filled “bottomless” tunnels are near Agia Marina, where the search was concentrated.
Mosley’s wife, Dr. Clare Bailey, 62, released a poignant statement on Saturday, expressing her family’s determination to “not lose hope.”
“It has been three days since Michael left the beach to go for a walk. The longest and most unbearable days for myself and my children. The search is ongoing and our family are so incredibly grateful to the people of Symi, the Greek authorities, and the British Consulate who are working tirelessly to help find Michael. We will not lose hope.” The couple’s four children – Alexander, Jack, Daniel, and Katherine – arrived on the island on Friday to join the search efforts.
Longstanding Mayor Eleftherios Papakalodouka voiced “troubling questions” about Mosley’s movements on Wednesday. “Why did he leave the beach and his wife and friends?” he asked. “Why did he not take his telephone? He seemed to be walking very determinedly; surely it would have been better to stop and have a coffee or some water, but no, he decided to carry on.”
Search teams and the mayor told The Sun the walking route can be incredibly “dangerous” and “treacherous” with no shade. Mayor Papakalodouka added that Mosley had no water, stating, “You can’t survive in this weather.” Describing the rocky, challenging route, he noted, “The area is so difficult to walk. He wouldn’t have known where he was going. He could have got lost.”