Missing: Michael Mosley Latest Unexplained Disappearance on a Greek Island
Disappearance
Friday 7th, June 2024
5 minute read.
Update: 9th June 2024 - It's not the news that anyone was hoping for, but unfortunately it's been confirmed that the body of Michael Mosley has been found on the Greek Island of Symi. Are thoughts are with his family and friends.
Michael Mosley has been missing on the Greek Island of Symi since Wednesday the 5th of June 2024.
He is the latest person in a list of individuals that have reportedly gone missing on Greek islands over the years. The son of John Tossell states that there are at least 10 individuals that have gone missing in similar scenarios over the years across Greek islands.
The search for British broadcaster Michael Mosley continues after he went missing while on holiday on the Greek island of Symi. Mosley, well known for his television programmes and the "Just One Thing" podcast on BBC Radio 4, was last seen on Wednesday.
Mosley, 67, is reported to have left his wife Clare on the beach and set off on a walk to the centre of the island. His phone was later found at their accommodation, and Clare reported him missing. According to Greek police, a search operation involving 25 individuals, including police officers, divers, volunteers, and firefighters was launched. The search, which had paused late on Thursday, resumed on Friday morning with additional reinforcements.
A helicopter from Athens was deployed at 19:00 local time (17:00 BMT) on Thursday and continues to assist in the search. Drones are being used to explore hard to reach areas, and a police sniffer dog is aiding the effort. Officers are also scrutinising CCTV footage for any signs of Mosley.
The rescue operation is concentrating on the Pedi area after a woman reported seeing him there on Wednesday. Symi's deputy mayor, Ilias Chaskas, told BBC News that divers, with help from the Hellenic Coast Guard, are now searching the waters. Despite extensive efforts, the island's mayor, Eleftherios Papakalodoukas, expressed doubts about Mosley still being on the island. "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 Mosley might have followed another path or fallen into the sea.
A missing person appeal with a photo of Mosley, wearing a blue cap, polo shirt, and shorts, was posted on a local Facebook group on Wednesday. "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 said.
On Wednesday, Symi experienced extreme heat, with the National Observatory of Athens reporting temperatures exceeding 40 degrees celsius at 15:00. Symi, part of Greece's Dodecanese island group, is located about 19 kilometres northwest of Rhodes and had a population of approximately 2,600 people in the 2021 census. Most of its beaches are remote, and visitors are typically advised to take boats to reach them.
Local residents, including Antonis and Maria, who have lived on Symi all their lives, expressed their shock and confusion over Mosley's disappearance. “This is crazy”, Antonis told BBC News. “The place is very small. A little kid can’t get lost here. How does a man get lost?” While some locals speculate that Mosley fell into the water, Antonis noted that the most dangerous areas of the terrain lead to the ground rather than the sea.
Residents are puzzled by Mosley’s decision to hike in challenging weather conditions without his phone to navigate. However, Dawn, a friend of the person Mosley was staying with, mentioned that the route he would have taken is a relatively easy 20 minute walk down the side of the mountain. “It’s something that tourists do every day”, she told BBC Radio 5 Live, adding that the situation is “worrying” given the popularity of the path.
With temperatures forecasted to reach around 37°C on Friday, a yellow high temperature warning has been issued for Symi. The combination of sweltering heat and rugged terrain continues to challenge search efforts as authorities and volunteers strive to find Mosley.
The disappearance of Mr Mosley echoes the disappearance of John Tossell in 2019.
John Tossell, a 73 year old British tourist, went missing while on holiday in Argassi, Zakinthos. The retired engineer, who was staying with his partner of nearly 20 years, disappeared on the morning of 17th June 2019 after going for a walk.
John, known for his love of walking and exploring, had left the hotel room without his phone or passport, taking only a few euros. He assured his partner that he wouldn't be long and suggested she take his swimming trunks and book to the pool, where he would join her shortly. This behaviour was not unusual for John, who enjoyed walking and had shown particular interest in the masts atop Mount Skopos.
At 9.45 am, John was captured on CCTV walking past the Wind Mill Bay Hotel, heading towards Vasilikos and Mount Skopos. As a retired engineer, the masts on Mount Skopos intrigued him, and he was known to be an active man, regularly walking and swimming several kilometres each day. His GP had confirmed that John was in excellent health before the holiday.
There had been unconfirmed reports of a man matching John’s description seen at the café on the summit of Mount Skopos. The witness claimed John stopped there for approximately half an hour, drinking a large bottle of water. This was the last known sighting of John.
Local search and rescue teams, including dogs and helicopters, conducted extensive searches of the mountain. A team of 13 from the Welsh Beacons rescue team also joined the efforts, but no trace of John was found.
Michael Mosley has been missing on the Greek Island of Symi since Wednesday the 5th of June 2024.
He is the latest person in a list of individuals that have reportedly gone missing on Greek islands over the years. The son of John Tossell states that there are at least 10 individuals that have gone missing in similar scenarios over the years across Greek islands.
The search for British broadcaster Michael Mosley continues after he went missing while on holiday on the Greek island of Symi. Mosley, well known for his television programmes and the "Just One Thing" podcast on BBC Radio 4, was last seen on Wednesday.
Mosley, 67, is reported to have left his wife Clare on the beach and set off on a walk to the centre of the island. His phone was later found at their accommodation, and Clare reported him missing. According to Greek police, a search operation involving 25 individuals, including police officers, divers, volunteers, and firefighters was launched. The search, which had paused late on Thursday, resumed on Friday morning with additional reinforcements.
A helicopter from Athens was deployed at 19:00 local time (17:00 BMT) on Thursday and continues to assist in the search. Drones are being used to explore hard to reach areas, and a police sniffer dog is aiding the effort. Officers are also scrutinising CCTV footage for any signs of Mosley.
The rescue operation is concentrating on the Pedi area after a woman reported seeing him there on Wednesday. Symi's deputy mayor, Ilias Chaskas, told BBC News that divers, with help from the Hellenic Coast Guard, are now searching the waters. Despite extensive efforts, the island's mayor, Eleftherios Papakalodoukas, expressed doubts about Mosley still being on the island. "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 Mosley might have followed another path or fallen into the sea.
A missing person appeal with a photo of Mosley, wearing a blue cap, polo shirt, and shorts, was posted on a local Facebook group on Wednesday. "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 said.
On Wednesday, Symi experienced extreme heat, with the National Observatory of Athens reporting temperatures exceeding 40 degrees celsius at 15:00. Symi, part of Greece's Dodecanese island group, is located about 19 kilometres northwest of Rhodes and had a population of approximately 2,600 people in the 2021 census. Most of its beaches are remote, and visitors are typically advised to take boats to reach them.
Local residents, including Antonis and Maria, who have lived on Symi all their lives, expressed their shock and confusion over Mosley's disappearance. “This is crazy”, Antonis told BBC News. “The place is very small. A little kid can’t get lost here. How does a man get lost?” While some locals speculate that Mosley fell into the water, Antonis noted that the most dangerous areas of the terrain lead to the ground rather than the sea.
Residents are puzzled by Mosley’s decision to hike in challenging weather conditions without his phone to navigate. However, Dawn, a friend of the person Mosley was staying with, mentioned that the route he would have taken is a relatively easy 20 minute walk down the side of the mountain. “It’s something that tourists do every day”, she told BBC Radio 5 Live, adding that the situation is “worrying” given the popularity of the path.
With temperatures forecasted to reach around 37°C on Friday, a yellow high temperature warning has been issued for Symi. The combination of sweltering heat and rugged terrain continues to challenge search efforts as authorities and volunteers strive to find Mosley.
The disappearance of Mr Mosley echoes the disappearance of John Tossell in 2019.
John Tossell, a 73 year old British tourist, went missing while on holiday in Argassi, Zakinthos. The retired engineer, who was staying with his partner of nearly 20 years, disappeared on the morning of 17th June 2019 after going for a walk.
John, known for his love of walking and exploring, had left the hotel room without his phone or passport, taking only a few euros. He assured his partner that he wouldn't be long and suggested she take his swimming trunks and book to the pool, where he would join her shortly. This behaviour was not unusual for John, who enjoyed walking and had shown particular interest in the masts atop Mount Skopos.
At 9.45 am, John was captured on CCTV walking past the Wind Mill Bay Hotel, heading towards Vasilikos and Mount Skopos. As a retired engineer, the masts on Mount Skopos intrigued him, and he was known to be an active man, regularly walking and swimming several kilometres each day. His GP had confirmed that John was in excellent health before the holiday.
There had been unconfirmed reports of a man matching John’s description seen at the café on the summit of Mount Skopos. The witness claimed John stopped there for approximately half an hour, drinking a large bottle of water. This was the last known sighting of John.
Local search and rescue teams, including dogs and helicopters, conducted extensive searches of the mountain. A team of 13 from the Welsh Beacons rescue team also joined the efforts, but no trace of John was found.
