TV presenter Michael Mosley, renowned for popularizing the 5:2 diet, has gone missing while on holiday on the Greek island of Symi.
A search and rescue operation is currently underway, involving a police dog and a drone to cover hard-to-reach areas. A helicopter has been deployed from Athens to assist in the efforts.
According to Greek Police, Mr. Mosley left his wife on the beach and set off on a walk towards the island's center on Wednesday. His phone was found at their accommodation, prompting his wife to report him missing, a police spokesperson told BBC News.
The 67-year-old broadcaster is well known for his work on programs such as the BBC series "Trust Me, I'm A Doctor" and appearances on BBC's "The One Show" and ITV's "This Morning."
After local officers on the island were unable to locate Mr. Mosley, they requested assistance from the Greek fire department in Athens. Firefighters arrived in Symi from nearby Rhodes at 14:00 local time (12:00 BST) on Thursday. The search team, including firefighters, volunteers, and police officers, is working alongside a police dog and a drone. They are also reviewing CCTV footage for any signs of Mr. Mosley.
The search operation is focused on the Pedi area of Symi after a woman reported seeing him there on Wednesday, according to the island's deputy mayor Ilias Chaskas. He mentioned that the area is considered dangerous, though the woman saw Mr. Mosley in a safer part of Pedi.
The island's mayor, Eleftherios Papakalodoukas, indicated that firefighters believe it is "impossible" for Mr. Mosley to still be in the area. "It is a very small, controlled area, full of people. So if something happened to him there, we would have found him by now," he told BBC News. He suggested that Mr. Mosley might have either "followed another path" or fallen into the sea.
A local Facebook group posted an appeal on Wednesday, including a picture of Mr. Mosley wearing a blue cap, polo shirt, and shorts. "Have you seen this man? He set off to walk back from [Agios Nikolaos beach] at about 13.30 and failed to make it home," the post read.
Wednesday was extremely hot in Symi, with temperatures reaching over 40C (104F) at 15:00 local time, as reported by the National Observatory of Athens. Symi, part of Greece's Dodecanese island group, is located about 12 miles (19km) northwest of Rhodes, with a population of approximately 2,600 people according to the 2021 census. Most beaches on the island are remote, and visitors are advised to use boats to reach them. The area around Agios Nikolaos beach is particularly rocky and difficult to hike.
Local residents expressed concern over why someone would choose to hike in such challenging conditions without a phone to navigate. With temperatures expected to reach as high as 48C on Friday, an extreme heat warning has been issued for Symi, complicating the search efforts.
A Foreign Office spokesperson stated: "We are supporting the family of a British man who is missing in Greece and are in contact with the local authorities."
Mr. Mosley, who studied medicine in London and qualified as a doctor, has spent the last few decades as a presenter, documentary maker, journalist, and author. His TV work has earned awards, including an Emmy for the BBC science documentary "The Human Face." In 2014, he deliberately infested himself with tapeworms for the BBC Four documentary "Infested! Living With Parasites." He also writes a column for the Daily Mail and has produced several TV programs about diet and exercise, including "Michael Mosley: Who Made Britain Fat?" on Channel 4.
An advocate for intermittent fasting diets, Mr. Mosley is known for the 5:2 diet and The Fast 800 diet. He 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 Mr. Mosley presented a special edition of his BBC Radio 4 series and podcast "Just One Thing."
Reacting to the "shocking news," his fellow "Trust Me, I'm A Doctor" co-star Dr. Saleyha Ahsan expressed her concern, saying she was "praying he is found safe" and feels "sick with worry." Presenter Jeremy Vine, who has featured Mr. Mosley on his BBC Radio 2 program, posted on social media: "I'm praying this lovely man is found and thinking of Clare and the whole Mosley family." On Thursday's edition of "The One Show," presenter Alex Jones expressed concern for "our friend" and conveyed thoughts and hopes for more positive news for Mr. Mosley and his family.
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