'Race against time' in search for TV doctor as rescuers shift focus

4 months ago 7

The search for missing TV doctor Michael Mosley has become a "race against time", as rescuers shift focus to a mountainous path.

CCTV images have emerged showing the 67-year-old at 2pm on Wednesday in the town of Pedi, half an hour after he left Saint Nikolas Beach on the Greek island of Symi.

Michael Mosley CCTV images

Having gone to the beach with his wife Clare and another couple, Mosley preferred to return on foot, according to Athens-based newspaper Kathimerini.

Pedi is a small town in a bay around 1.2km from the beach.

The CCTV images - captured by a restaurant - appear to show Mosley wearing a dark T-shirt, shorts and a cap. He is carrying an umbrella.

Separate footage seen by rescuers from a house at the edge of Pedi appears to show him entering a mountainous path heading inland, rather than following the coast or taking a more direct route towards the centre of the island.

One of the rescuers said Mosley's decision was "inexplicable", as it would have taken a fit young person three hours to walk.

 Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

Image: Dr Michael Mosley with wife Clare. Pic: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

"The path is not easy to follow, if he took a wrong turn, he would be lost," she said of the little-used path.

"He could be anywhere, it is a race against time."

The hunt for Mosley resumed at 6am on Saturday, with firefighters scouring a 6.5km radius over a mountainous area, which search organiser Manolis Tsimpoukas described as "very dangerous". Divers had joined the search on Friday.

Read more about missing TV doctor:
What we know about his last known movements
Son reveals surreal parallels with case of missing dad

Meanwhile, the mayor's daughter Mika Papakalodouka said it can reach temperatures of 40C outside so "it's easy to get dizzy".

Ms Papakalodouka, whose father Eleftherios Papakalodouka has been mayor of Symi for 22 years, said the island has around 300 permanent residents.

"It is a small island, people talk. We're good people actually here. Everybody is looking for him," the 20-year-old said.

"It's such a small island to get lost on. It's so weird for us. Everybody is worried and looking for him."

Mosley, his wife and the other couple arrived in Symi for a week's holiday on Tuesday, according to local media.

The search for the doctor has been ongoing since Wednesday afternoon.

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

The ongoing search

The search has so far seen all of Symi's coastguard patrol boats deployed while private and commercial vessels in the area have also helped.

Map of the Greek island Symi

Image: Map of the Greek island Symi

Police and firefighters have used drones to scan the island and a helicopter was deployed on Thursday. Divers have been looking in the water and sniffer dogs have also been used.

Search for Dr Michael Mosley

Image: Locals have assisted police in the search

Search for Dr Michael Mosley

Authorities have considered a number of possibilities, including Mosley may have suffered a fall - or could have been bitten by a snake, Greek news website ekathimerini.com reported.

More from Sky News:
Protesters target Duke's wedding
E.coli cases 'likely to rise'
Joey Barton faces assault trial

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

Mosley is a columnist and broadcaster who has made a number of films about diet and exercise.

He 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 has also appeared on numerous daytime television shows and hosts the health podcast, Just One Thing.

Read Entire Article
Progleton News @2023