The wife of Dr Michael Mosley has tragically confirmed that her “brilliant” and “wonderful” husband was found dead on the Greek island of Symi.
Clare Bailey said she was “devastated” by today’s discovery which ended a grueling five-day search, but said: “I feel so lucky to have had this life with Michael.”
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Dr Clare Bailey confirmed her husband’s death after his body was found on rocky ground on the Greek island of Symi this morning
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Emergency services at the scene where Mosley’s body was discovered
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The last known sighting of Dr Mosley alive was captured on CCTV carrying an umbrella as he left Pedi Village at 2pm on Wednesday
The body was discovered this morning in rocky, barren land near a beach bar and just a 30-minute walk from the village of Pedi, where Michael, 67, was last seen on CCTV.
Clare, 62, who has been married to TV doctor Michael for almost 40 years, has now confirmed the body belonged to her husband.
Ahead of today’s revelation, the mum-of-four told the world she would not “give up hope” after her husband waved goodbye to her before she seemingly disappeared on the Greek island of Symi on Wednesday.
The health professional’s disappearance sparked a major five-day search operation involving helicopters, divers, dogs and drones and most of the small island’s 2,600 residents.
read more at Michael Mosley
In a heartbreaking statement shared by The Sun today, Clare thanked everyone who helped in the search for Michael, who was loved by fans for his hit podcast and health advice.
She said: “I don’t know exactly where to start with this. It’s devastating to lose Michael, my wonderful, funny, kind and brilliant husband.
“We had an incredibly happy 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 few days.
He made an incredible climb, took the wrong route and crashed where he couldn’t be seen
Dr Clare Bailey
“My family and I have been greatly comforted by the outpouring of love from people all over the world. It is clear that Michael meant a lot to many of you.
“We are comforted by the fact that he almost succeeded.
“He made an incredible climb, went the wrong way and crashed where the extensive search team could not easily see him.
Comes as:
“Michael was an adventurous man, that’s part of what made him so special.
“We are so grateful to the amazing people on Symi who worked tirelessly to find him.
Fears grow for Michael Mosley as mayor warns ‘no one can survive the heat’ and BBC star’s children join desperate search
“Some of these people on the island, who had never heard of Michael, worked from dawn to dusk without anyone asking. We are also very grateful to The Press who treated 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.”
The couple, who have four children, met in medical school and have been together for 44 years.
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Clare said she was ‘devastated’ by the news of the death and thanked the people of Symi for their help in the search
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A couple on their wedding day in 1987. Credit: John Lawrence – The Sunday Times
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Dr Mosley’s body was found just 100 meters from Agia Marina beach along the fenceCredit: PA
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The TV doctor is pictured before he disappeared on the island of SymiCredit: Facebook
Tragically, Michael’s body was found just 100 meters from the path between Agia Marina and Symi Town that rescuers had taken to find his possible last steps.
His body was only about 100 meters away from the beach and close to a dangerous cave complex known locally as “The Abyss”.
Police spokeswoman Konstantina Dimoglou told The Sun earlier today: “He was found near the cave. How long he survived there is hard to say, but he has come a long way.
– He was close to the place he wanted to get to.
The British presenter, known for his appearances on The One Show and This Morning, was last seen on CCTV at 2pm on Wednesday leaving the village of Pedi and heading towards a rocky road.
Symi Mayor Eleftherios Papakalodouk added: “We analyzed the recorded evidence and it was obvious that it was Mosley, unfortunately.”
The mayor said he was on a boat when he saw the body lying 20 meters above Agia Marina beach and called a nearby bar to take a look.
“We zoomed in with the cameras and saw that it was him,” he said.
Ilias Tsavaris, 38, the barman who first discovered Michael’s body on the rocky ground, told The Sun: “I walked 30 meters and saw a picture of a person…
“I went closer and closer…And then I saw what I saw.
“It’s not every day you see a dead body, it’s not a war zone, it’s summer, you should be having fun and swimming.”
Michael is believed to have taken a fatal wrong turn on his walk after leaving Clare at 1.30pm on Wednesday to walk inland.
He only had an umbrella, a watch, a backpack, a wallet and a bottle of water with him.
His body remained undiscovered until Sunday morning.
It was later removed at 2.50pm after officers, including forensics teams and firefighters, combed the area.
They were seen looking at a rucksack near the body before it was taken away and sent on a ship believed to be bound for Rhodes.
Mayor Papakalodoukas told Sky News that there were no signs of injury on the body.
Police at the scene suspected a broken leg after he fell from the wall while helping with the body and had to be carried away on a stretcher.
‘INTOLERABLE DAYS’
Clare spoke for the first time on Saturday and described the search for her missing husband “as the longest and most unbearable days for me and my children”.
In an emotional statement, she said: “It’s been three days since Michael left the beach for a walk.
“The longest and most unbearable days for me and my children.
“The search is ongoing and our family is incredibly grateful to the people of Symi, the Greek authorities and the British Consulate who are working tirelessly to help find Michael.
“We will not lose hope.”
The couple met at medical school and have been together for 44 years since then.
Timeline of Dr. Mosley’s disappearance
WEDNESDAY JUNE 5
- 13.30: Dr. Mosley decides to go home alone to his holiday home in the town of Symi after going swimming at the beach
- 1.50pm: Rumor has it that the walk home will take about 20 minutes from Saint Nikolaos beach despite the doctor never coming back
- 1.52pm: CCTV captures Dr Mosley walking past a shop in Pedi
- About 2.20pm: Witnesses claim to have seen Dr Mosley talking to an elderly man in the town alongside another person
- 14.30-17.00: Doc was last seen on the home camera on the dangerous road to Agia Marina
- 7.30pm: Dr Mosley’s wife, Dr Clare Bailey, raises the alarm and calls the police
THURSDAY JUNE 6
- 10:30 a.m.: The police have reported a missing person and the search is underway
- 11:00 a.m.: The police are asking for any information
- 14:00: Six firefighters, one vehicle and a drone team are seen arriving in Symi from Rhodes
- 19:00: Helicopters deployed over the island
- 20:00: The first day of the search is called off for the night
FRIDAY JUNE 7
- 7:00 Additional police squadrons, coast guard officials, specially trained sniffer dogs and military helicopters assisted in the search
- 17:00 The first CCTV images have been released showing Dr Mosley with his umbrella near the Blue Corner bar
SATURDAY JUNE 8
- 7 a.m. Police begin searching a new area of about 7 km while intensifying the hunt
- 10.50am: New surveillance footage has been released showing Mosley leaving Pedi and heading towards the mountain track
- 11:00 The mayor of Symi says there is ‘no way’ the search will be called off until he is found
- 12:00 Mosley’s wife Clare says the family ‘will not lose hope’ but admits the last few days have been ‘unbearable’
- 15:00 The helicopter joins the search in the mountains
SUNDAY JUNE 9
- 10.50 A body found in a search near the cave known as ‘Bezdan’
- 11:00am Police say they believe the body is Dr Mosley’s
- 14.50 The body was taken out and taken away by boat
- 15.30 dr. Clare Bailey confirms the death of her ‘wonderful’ husband
WHAT HAPPENED?
Dr Michael Mosley left Saint Nikolas Beach at 1.30pm on Wednesday, where he was with his wife Clare and two friends.
It is believed he then walked the coastal path alone without a mobile phone to Pedi.
CCTV caught him in a fishing village at 1.52pm near a cafe in Pedi hiding under an umbrella.
Furthermore, CCTV, released to the public on Saturday, showed him leaving Pedi and heading towards a rocky road in blazing temperatures of up to 37C.
Rescuers say he was probably returning to their holiday accommodation in the town of Symi when he took a wrong turn leaving the village of Pedi.
Officers initially feared he had “fallen from a height” as he walked the coastal path from the beach to Pedi, however CCTV footage confirmed he had made it.
It is then assumed that Michael headed northeast – ending up on a long and difficult journey in a rocky, difficult and barren landscape under a scorching sun.
Both search teams and the mayor told The Sun the walking route could be incredibly “dangerous” and “treacherous” without shade.
Mayor Papakalodouk added that Mosley had no water, saying: “You can’t survive in this weather.”
On Friday night, police moved their search from the water to the mountains where they worked around the clock combing the barren land.
The search continued on Saturday, with at least 100 rescuers and volunteers – including Michael’s grown children – focused on Agia Marina.
Michael’s body was not found until Sunday morning, revealing that he had managed to reach Agia Marina.
But tragically, just a few dozen meters from safety he seemingly collapsed behind a beach bar near a fence.
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Clare confirmed the news of her husband’s death todayCredit: Enterprise
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Dr Mosley was last seen just 20 minutes after he left his wife on the beach to walk back on his ownCredit: Reuters
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Ilias Tsavaris, a local bar manager, told The Sun of his horror when he discovered Michael’s body
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More than 100 rescuers, firefighters and volunteers participated in the search Credit: AFP
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Firefighters combed the mountainside after the search shifted to rocky outcrops on Saturday
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A helicopter flies over the hills near Pedi as part of a rescue mission Credit: Mirrorpix
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