Dr. Michael Mosley Found Dead After Taking Wrong Turn During Greek Heatwave
The tragic death of TV medic Dr. Michael Mosley occurred on the Greek island of Symi, near the resort of Agia Marina, following a two-and-a-half-hour walk in 40°C heat last Wednesday.
Dr. Mosley, 67, was supposed to meet his wife in the town of Symi, but a wrong turn turned what should have been a 20-minute journey into a much longer and ultimately fatal trek. After a four-day search, his body was found on Sunday, via Sky News.
Greek media reported that police had footage of Dr. Mosley near a beach bar close to where he was found on Wednesday, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary in the footage. Police noted that it was hard to spot anything unusual because he appeared so small in the video.
Initial findings from Dr. Mosley’s autopsy indicate that he sat down for a final rest a short distance from a beach bar near Agia Marina. Medical officials suggest that the position of his body indicates he may have rested on the wall before lying down in the intense heat. The report concluded that he might have tried to raise his legs but lost consciousness and died.
CCTV footage shows Dr. Mosley walking at a slow pace through the mountains, trying to reach the marina. At one point, the footage captures him collapsing on the rocks, indicating he was exhausted. This footage, now in the hands of police, contradicts initial reports that he suffered a heavy fall in the heat.
The exact cause of Dr. Mosley’s death has not been fully established due to the condition of his remains. His body was discovered in a rocky area beside Agia Marina, about a 30-minute walk from the village of Pedi, where he was last seen on CCTV.
Dr. Mosley’s widow, Dr. Clare Bailey Mosley, paid tribute to his “wonderful” husband, expressing pride in their children who flew out to help with the search. “He was a funny, kind, and brilliant husband,” she said in a statement.
CCTV footage that emerged on Monday showed Dr. Mosley making his way down a rocky slope before falling out of view. His disappearance sparked a massive four-day manhunt, concluding with his discovery off the path near some caves, on the way down towards Agia Marina.
The island’s mayor, Eleftherios Papakalodoukas, spotted something unusual as he left the area by boat and alerted the manager of a nearby beach restaurant, who called the police. Agia Marina bar manager Ilias Tsavaris, 38, discovered Dr. Mosley’s body around 100 meters from his establishment after it was flagged by the mayor.