A bar owner who found a body in the hunt for Michael Mosley has spoken out on the major search operation to find the TV doctor.
The 67-year-old was reported missing on Wednesday by his wife on the Greek island of Symi.
Around 9am UK time, a body was discovered by search crews.
In a news conference, Eleftherios Papakaloudoukas said Mosley was found dead just 10 meters away from the Agia Marina beach.
According to the mayor of Symi: “The body was found on land 10 meters from the beach, next to a plot fence, which is why it had not been found for so many days.
“The man crossed the entire route, reached his destination and 10 meters from the beach he tripped, fell… I don’t know what to say… 200 people are on this beach every day and many boats come and go every day,” Papakalodoukas told Greek outlet SKAI.
Papakaloudoukas said Mosley most likely died of heat stroke and exhaustion.
A police source told the BBC the person had been dead “for a number of days”.
The remains are awaiting formal identification.
Ilias Tsavaris, 38, said he first saw the body, alongside journalists, after the island’s mayor “saw something” by the fence of the bar and alerted staff.
Ilias Tsavaris recounts finding the body
PA
Michael Mosley: body found in search for missing TV doctor
PA
Michael Mosley: A body was found near a fence
PA
Michael Mosley search: helicopter over Symi
PA
“They saw it with the boat,” The Agia Marina bar manager said.
“The mayor came and saw something so that is when they called me and said ‘Hey they saw something go and check there’.
“They called me, they said ‘You know what we saw something from far away can you go and check’ so I went there.
“So when I walked up I saw something like a body to make sure. You don’t see a dead body everyday, it is not a warzone, it’s summer you are supposed to have fun and swimming.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Emergency services on a boat at Agia Marina in Symi, Greece, where a body has been discovered during a search and rescue operation for TV doctor and columnist Michael Mosley
PA
A general view of Agia Marina in Symi, Greece, where a body has been discovered during a search and rescue operation for TV doctor and columnist Michael Mosley
PA
“He came from Pedi OK, and he walked not through the restaurant. If he had walked through there (the bar) we would have checked the cameras.” (sic)
He added: “Rescuers had searched that area everyday with helicopters”.
It was discovered beneath a fence that runs around the bar on Agia Marina beach on the Greek island.
The bar is surrounded by hilly and rocky terrain that runs down to the sea.
Michael Mosley: Tsavaris said ‘They saw the body with the boat’
PA
A general view of Agia Marina in Symi, Greece, where a body has been discovered during a search and rescue operation for TV doctor and columnist Michael Mosley
PA
According to reports, Mosley’s body, along with an umbrella, was found around 90 metres inland from the coastline.
The seaside bar near where the body was found on the island of Symi is in a large compound surrounded by a high fence made of wire and stone.
Outside the compound, there is no shelter or shade from the relentless heat.
People are still playing in the sea and taking photos of one another by sunbeds as police and coastguards investigate the discovery.
Mosley was best known for popularising the 5:2 diet and for his appearances on The One Show and This Morning.
Mosley was married to wife Clare Bailey, who is also a doctor, health columnist and author, and has four children.
Post comments (0)