09 June 2024 , 15:03
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TV doctor Michael Mosley’s body was found just 50 yards from safety - as his heartbroken wife paid tribute to her “wonderful, funny, kind and brilliant” husband.
Dr Clare Bailey Mosley spoke after the body of her 67-year-old husband was found close to a secluded beach resort on the sunshine island of Symi. His body was found behind a small wall and chain link fence which circles the secluded, picturesque resort of Agia Marina.
He had veered off a rocky path which leads to the bar and it is believed he may passed out in the 40C heat or fallen on the dangerous terrain. If he had managed to make it another few yards, then he would have reached the sea and a gate into the resort. The distinctive purple umbrella he had been carrying at the time was close to him.
It has emerged that there is CCTV footage of Dr Mosley slowly making his way down the rocks by the Agia Marina. The grainy footage is believed to show him in the distance making his way down before he disappears behind the wall. The footage has been passed to local police.
Dr Michael Mosley was heartbreakingly close to reaching a local hotel (Tim Merry/Mirror Express)'Last moments'
Dr Mosley’s was one of Britain’s best known TV doctors. His body was found just 50 yards from the entrance of the beach bar.
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Police confirmed it was his body. Petros Vassilakis, a senior police official, said: “It’s him.” He was identified by his personal belongings and clothes.
Just 24 hours earlier search teams, including Dr Mosley’s children, had been within 200 yards of his body as they retraced his steps. Dr Mosley left wife Clare at St Nicholas beach on Wednesday afternoon at 1.30pm, heading towards the village of Pedi. CCTV picked him up walking through the village.
Michael's body was found near to Marina AgiaThe last sighting was security camera footage from a house at the end of the bay in Pedi which showed him striding up a hill towards Agia Marina. The walk from St Nicholas beach to where the body was found is around three miles and would have taken a couple of hours.
Police are working on the theory he had been dead for ‘several days’. This afternoon, emergency workers arrived at the bar to examine the scene and remove the body. They placed him on an orange stretcher before he was taken away in a small waiting boat.
CCTV footage appeared to show Michael in the local town of Pedi
He was spotted about 20 minutes after leaving the beachThe body was found by staff at the beach bar after being alerted by the island’s mayor. Eleftherios Papakalodouka had joined a Greek TV crew to film the coastline where the search was taking place when they spotted something “unusual”.
Bar manager Ilias Tsavaris said he had been sent up to have a look following the alert when he saw the ‘glint from a watch’ and a body. He said: 'The mayor had been here to give interviews to the media and then left on a boat to return to Pedi. From the sea he saw something unusual and then he called the restaurant and asked them to check it out.
“I was sent up there and as I turned the fence to go up I saw a glint from a watch and then I saw the body at the same time. You don’t see a dead body every day, it’s not a warzone, it’s summer and you’re supposed to have fun and swim.”
Search teams were scouring the hillsides of Symi for days (Tim Merry/Mirror Express)Wife's heartbreaking message
Wife Clare said: “I don’t know quite where to begin with this. It’s devastating to have lost Michael, my wonderful, funny, kind and brilliant husband. We had an incredibly lucky life together. We loved each other very much and were so happy together. I am incredibly proud of our children, their resilience and support over the past days.
“My family and I have been hugely comforted by the outpouring of love from people from around the world. It’s clear that Michael meant a huge amount to so many of you.” She said Michael had died after taking the “wrong route” over a dangerous rocky terrain towards the secluded beach resort Agia Marina.
Michael's wife said the family was "hugely comforted by the outpouring of love from people from around the world" (INSTAGRAM)“We’re taking comfort in the fact that he so very nearly made it. He did an incredible climb, took the wrong route and collapsed where he couldn’t be easily seen by the extensive search team.
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“Michael was an adventurous man, it’s part of what made him so special. We are so grateful to the extraordinary people on Symi who have worked tirelessly to help find him.
“Some of these people on the island, who hadn’t even heard of Michael, worked from dawn till dusk unasked. We’re also very grateful to The Press who have dealt with us with great respect. I feel so lucky to have our children and my amazing friends. Most of all, I feel so lucky to have had this life with Michael. Thank you all.”
Michael's body was found near to the Agia Marina resort (Press Association Images)Kids' heartbreaking trip to Symi
Dr Mosley's grown-up children Alex, Jack, Dan and Kate had arrived at the island on Saturday to join their mother Clare in the search He was known for his bubbly personality and had released a string of best-selling books. He was well known for popularising the 5:2 diet.
Dr Mosley and his wife landed on the small, 25-square-mile island last Tuesday to stay for a week with a couple who have a house in Symi Town. The two couples took a boat up the coast on Wednesday morning. They stopped at Saint Nicholas beach where he went for a swim in the sea before deciding to walk the 2.2 miles back to the house for his mobile.
But when Dr Bailey and the couple returned they found he had not returned and raised the alarm. Tributes started to flood in after the tragic news of his death broke.
Academic and broadcaster Alice Roberts who first worked with him on her 2009 TV series Human Journey: “The fragility of life is so shocking. When he started presenting as well as producing, we made several science programmes together. And we met up at Hay Festival just 2 weeks ago. I can't believe he's gone. My thoughts are with his bereaved family."
Mosley's co-presenter on Trust Me, I'm A Doctor, Dr Saleyha Ahsan described him as a "national treasure" and a “hugely talented” man. Tom Watson, the former deputy leader of the Labour Party, described Mosley as a "hero". He wrote on social media: “It's hard to describe how upset I am by this news.
"Through courageous, science-based journalism, Michael Mosley has helped thousands of people get well and healthy. I'm one of them. He was a hero to me. He will be deeply missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”