By Blessing Nweke
An intensified search operation is underway for British TV presenter Michael Mosley, who went missing while on holiday on the Greek island of Symi. Renowned for popularising the 5:2 diet, Mosley, 67, was last seen on Wednesday after setting off on a walk towards the island’s center.
Local police reported late Thursday that the search operation paused overnight, would resume Friday morning with additional officers joining the effort. A helicopter was dispatched from Athens at approximately 19:00 local time (17:00 BST) to aid in the search, which is also being supported by a drone and a police dog.
According to the Greek Police, Mosley left his wife Clare on the beach before embarking on his walk. His phone was found at their accommodation, and Clare reported him missing when he did not return. Despite extensive efforts by island officers, including the examination of CCTV footage, Mosley remains unlocated. Assistance was requested from the Greek fire department in Athens, with firefighters arriving from Rhodes on Thursday at 14:00 local time (noon BST).
The search is concentrated around the Pedi area of Symi after a local woman reported seeing Mosley there on Wednesday. Despite the area being dangerous, Deputy Mayor Ilias Chaskas noted that Mosley was spotted on a safer part of the road. However, Symi’s mayor, Eleftherios Papakalodoukas, expressed skepticism that Mosley remains in the area, describing it as “a very small, controlled area, full of people,” suggesting an accident there would have already been discovered. He speculated that Mosley might have taken an alternative route or fallen into the sea.
An appeal was posted on a local Facebook group on Wednesday, showing Mosley in a blue cap, polo shirt, and shorts, asking if anyone had seen him after he left Agios Nikolaos beach at around 13:30. The island experienced extreme heat on Wednesday, with temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F), further complicating the search in the island’s rugged terrain.
Symi, part of Greece’s Dodecanese island group, lies about 12 miles northwest of Rhodes and had a population of approximately 2,600 people as of the 2021 census. The island’s beaches are mostly remote, with visitors typically advised to use boats for access. The rocky surroundings of Agios Nikolaos beach make hiking particularly difficult, and locals are puzzled why Mosley chose to walk without his phone for navigation.
Temperatures are expected to soar to 48°C on Friday, prompting an extreme heat warning on Symi, adding to the challenges faced by the search teams.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office stated, “We are supporting the family of a British man who is missing in Greece and is in contact with the local authorities.”
Michael Mosley, who studied medicine in London and initially qualified as a doctor, has spent the past two decades as a presenter, documentary maker, journalist, and author. He is well known for BBC series like Trust Me, I’m A Doctor and has made several TV programs about diet and exercise, including Michael Mosley: Who Made Britain Fat? on Channel 4. Mosley is a prominent advocate of intermittent fasting diets, notably the 5:2 diet and The Fast 800 diet.
Mosley has four children with his wife Clare Bailey Mosley, who is also a doctor, author, and healthy living advocate. The couple recently appeared at the Hay Festival, where Mosley presented a special edition of his BBC Radio 4 series and podcast Just One Thing.
The news of his disappearance has shocked colleagues and friends. Dr. Saleyha Ahsan, his co-star on Trust Me, I’m A Doctor, expressed her distress, stating she is “praying he is found safe” and feels “sick with worry.” On Thursday’s The One Show, presenter Alex Jones opened the program by expressing concern for Mosley, referring to him as “our friend,” and extended thoughts to his wife Clare and family, hoping for positive news soon.