The search for British broadcaster Michael Mosley has resumed after he went missing while on holiday on the Greek island of Symi. Renowned for his TV programmes and his Just One Thing podcast on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the presenter was last seen on Wednesday. He had embarked on a walk to the centre of the island.
Local police temporarily paused the operation late on Thursday but resumed it on Friday morning with reinforcements. Currently, the search party consists of 25 people, including police officers, volunteers, and firefighters. A helicopter was deployed from the Greek capital Athens at around 19:00 local time (17:00 BST) and is being used in the search, along with drones and a police sniffer dog.
According to Greek police, Mr. Mosley left his wife Clare on the beach before setting off on his walk to the island’s center on Wednesday. His phone was found in the place where he was staying with his wife, who subsequently reported him missing.
The 67-year-old broadcaster is well known for his BBC programmes, including Trust Me, I’m A Doctor and The One Show, as well as ITV’s This Morning. Despite efforts by officers on the island and assistance from the Greek fire department, Mr. Mosley has not yet been located. The rescue operation is concentrating on the Pedi area of Symi, following a sighting report from a woman on Wednesday.
The island’s mayor expressed doubts about Mr. Mosley still being in the area and suggested the possibility of him having followed another path or fallen into the sea. An appeal for information about his whereabouts was posted on a local Facebook group along with a picture of Mr. Mosley.
“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,” it said.
Wednesday in Symi was exceptionally hot, with temperatures exceeding 40°C at 15:00, as reported by the National Observatory of Athens. Symi, situated about 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Rhodes, is part of Greece’s Dodecanese island group and had a population of approximately 2,600 people according to the 2021 census.
The island’s beaches are predominantly remote, requiring visitors to take boats to reach them. Local residents have expressed confusion over why someone would choose to embark on a hike in such challenging conditions, especially without their phone for navigation, rather than opting for a boat ride back.
However, Symi resident Dawn, a friend of the individual Mr. Mosley was staying with, explained that the route he likely took is a relatively straightforward 20-minute walk down the side of the mountain. She emphasized that the path is not overly rugged or perceived as excessively dangerous.
“It’s something that tourists do everyday,” she told BBC Radio 5 Live, adding the situation is “worrying” given how many people take the route.
“Hopefully, obviously, he’ll be found as soon as possible,” she said.
As temperatures are predicted to soar to approximately 33°C on Friday, a yellow high temperature warning has been issued across the island of Symi. The intense heat, combined with the island’s rugged terrain, will undoubtedly pose additional challenges for those involved in the search for Mr. Mosley.
A spokesperson from the Foreign Office 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 couple of decades working as a presenter, documentary maker, journalist, and author.
