Search resumes for Michael Mosley on Greek island of Symi

A search operation is underway for the 67-year-old broadcaster, who studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at the University of Oxford in his early years.

Dr Mosley went missing while holidaying on the Greek island.

The local police department confirmed at around 7am on Friday that officers are scouring the island following them pausing the search-and-rescue operation for the British national on Thursday night.

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Police and firefighters have been using drones to try and locate Dr Mosley, who was reported to have vanished after setting off on a walk to the centre of the island on Wednesday, and a helicopter was deployed on Thursday to assist the search.

(Image: PA)

A spokesperson for the Greek fire service said on Friday: “The search continues today with seven firefighters, one drone checking the wider area, and we (are) co-operating with the Hellenic Police Office.”

The spokesperson also confirmed that the Greek police are using sniffer dogs in the search.

More officers will join the search-and-rescue operation on Symi, which is part of the Dodecanese island chain and is about 25 miles north of Rhodes.

Local people from Symi, a helicopter from Rhodes and Greek officers, along with police drafted in from outside the island, are searching the Pedi area and surroundings on Friday morning, the mayor’s office said.

The area where Dr Mosley went missing is experiencing hot temperatures, which is forecast to reach highs of 36C on Friday, according to the Hellenic National Meteorological Service.

It also has a yellow weather warning in force in Rhodes and the surrounding islands including Symi for high temperatures.

A statement from Greek police, which has been translated, said officers were informed about the “disappearance of the 67-year-old British national on the island” on Wednesday.

Police then asked for assistance from the Greek fire service, with six firefighters, a vehicle and a drone team arriving from Rhodes at about 2pm (noon BST) on Thursday.

The rescue operation is said to be focusing on the Pedi area of the island after a woman reported seeing Dr Mosley, known for popularising the 5:2 diet and for his appearances on The One Show and This Morning, there on Wednesday.

Mayor of Symi, Eleftherios Papakalodoukas, said firefighters had told him they believed it was “impossible” Dr Mosley was still there.

He told the BBC: “It is a very small, controlled area, full of people. So, if something happened to him there, we would have found him by now.”

A woman who gave her name only as Irini, and who works at Kamares coffee shop on Pedi Beach, said on Thursday: “They came, the police, with the coast police and firemen, and the rescue team, to carry out the investigation, but I don’t think that anything has been found yet.”

Another woman in the area said Dr Mosley’s disappearance was “strange” as the path he was thought to be on is “clear”.

She said: “It’s a quiet place … if you see the map of the area it’s a clear path, it’s nothing dangerous, many people go every day, every few minutes, that’s the reason it’s very strange because it’s a clear path.”

A friend of the person Dr Mosley was staying with said she was struggling to understand how anyone could get lost on the part of the island he was believed to be on.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Drive programme, she said: “It’s a road that sort of heads over the mountain side but it’s been recently widened and there is only one route, so it’s not possible to lose your way.

“So, it is probably a 20-minute walk down the side of the mountain, but it’s not overly rugged or something that would be seen to be too dangerous, it’s something that tourists do every day in the summer.

“I’m having trouble understanding how you could get lost.”

A local Facebook group said Dr Mosley went for a walk from Saint Nikolas Beach at about 1.30pm Greek time on Wednesday.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who is missing in Greece and are in contact with the local authorities.”

Dr Mosley is known for being a columnist for the Daily Mail and has made a number of films about diet and exercise.

The broadcaster fronted the Channel 4 show Michael Mosley: Who Made Britain Fat? and was part of the BBC series Trust Me, I’m A Doctor.

He also lived with tapeworms in his gut for six weeks for the documentary Infested! Living With Parasites on BBC Four.

Dr Mosley received an Emmy nod for BBC science documentary The Human Face, presented by John Cleese and featuring a raft of famous faces, including Elizabeth Hurley, Pierce Brosnan and Sir David Attenborough.

He also advocated intermittent fasting through the 5:2 diet and The Fast 800 diet.

Roy Taylor, who is a professor of medicine and metabolism at Newcastle University and co-authored The 8-Week Blood Sugar Diet with Mosley, said: “This shocking news focuses our minds on Michael’s wife Claire and their sons.

“Our thoughts are with them in this terrible time of uncertainty, hoping that he will be found safely. All speed and success to those searching for this dear man.”

Trust Me I’m A Doctor star Saleyha Ahsan wrote on social media that the news was “shocking” and that she was hoping Mr Mosley would be “found safe”.

“I literally feel sick with worry,” Ahsan added. “Don’t even know what to say.”

Radio 2 presenter and Channel 5 talk show host Jeremy Vine wrote in a social media post: “I’m praying this lovely man is found and thinking of Claire and the whole Mosley family.”

MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis wrote on X: “Feeling disturbed about the news about Dr Michael Mosley. I hope he’s ok.”

Dr Mosley has four children with his wife Clare Bailey Mosley, also a doctor, author and health columnist, who wrote the recipe book Fast 800 Easy.

The couple, who have hosted theatre show tours together, recently attended the Hay Festival, where Dr Mosley presented a special edition of his Radio 4 series and podcast Just One Thing.