Michael Mosley's wife pays tribute to 'kind' husband

The wife of TV and radio presenter Dr Michael Mosley has paid tribute to her "wonderful, funny, kind and brilliant" husband, whose body was found, four days after he went missing on the Greek island of Symi.

Dr Clare Bailey Mosley said it was "devastating" in a statement confirming his death.

The 67-year-old father-of-four went missing on Wednesday after setting off on a walk from Agios Nikolaos beach.

His body was found on a hillside near Agia Marina beach bar on Sunday.

Dr Bailey Mosley said: "We had an incredibly lucky life together.

"We loved each other very much and were so happy together."

She said she was incredibly proud of her children and had been "hugely comforted by the outpouring of love from people around the world".

Tributes have been pouring in to the broadcaster and author.

Charlotte Moore, the BBC's chief content officer, said: "He was a brilliant science broadcaster and programme maker, able to make the most complex subjects simple, but he was also passionate about engaging and entertaining audiences, inspiring us all to live a healthier, fuller life."

And Dr Saleyha Ahsan, co-presenter on Trust Me, I'm A Doctor, told BBC News he was a "national treasure" and a "hugely talented" man.

She also praised his "passion for explaining science to a wider audience", adding he made it "accessible to anyone and everyone, not just a niche scientific crowd".

Professor Brian Cox said Dr Mosley was a "mentor" to other science presenters.

Sophie Laurimore, director of The Soho Agency which represented Dr Mosley, said he was a "wise, wonderful and lovely man".

"He was immensely grateful for how receptive the public were to the ideas he had the privilege to share and to the many scientists whose work he had the honour to help popularise", she added. "Michael was unique."

Some BBC News readers have also been sending tributes praising his impact.

Glenis Shaw, from New Zealand, told the BBC Dr Mosley was "my absolute hero".

"He taught me how to be healthy. I owe him so very much.

"We have all lost someone very special and I feel devastated for his wife and family."

Judith, a teacher from Salisbury, said she has used some of Dr Mosley's documentaries to teach GCSE History for the last 16 years.

"He is a History teacher's best friend, and I am not sure if he ever knew it," she said.

Sue said Dr Mosley helped her "get through Covid - just listening to his broadcasts".

"I wish I could have thanked him personally," she added.

"We are all the richer for having him in our lives."

Dr Mosley was reported missing after he left Agios Nikolaos beach to set off on a walk at about 13:30 local time (11:30 BST) on Wednesday.

CCTV footage showed he had walked to the other side of the bay in intense heat and across rocky terrain.

"We’re taking comfort in the fact that he so very nearly made it," his wife said in her statement.

"He did an incredible climb, took the wrong route and collapsed where he couldn’t be easily seen by the extensive search team."

"Michael was an adventurous man, it’s part of what made him so special," she continued.

She also thanked the "extraordinary" people on Symi who worked "tirelessly" to find her husband.

The body was found metres away from Agia Marina beach

Symi's mayor Eleftherios Papakalodouka said the body was found as teams were searching the coastline.

A bar manager found the body, PA news agency reported, after the island's mayor "saw something" by the fence of the bar and alerted staff.

A police source told BBC News the deceased had been dead "for a number of days".

Dr Mosley was found next to a fence around 30 minutes walk from the village of Pedi where he was last seen. A coroner has examined the body.

Greek authorities had been conducting an extensive search for Dr Mosley amid high temperatures.

A police officer apparently broke his leg as the body was being recovered.

Dr Mosley studied medicine in London and qualified as a doctor, and for the last two decades was working as a presenter, documentary maker, journalist and author.

He was known for his TV programmes including Trust Me, I'm a Doctor, and BBC Radio 4's Just One Thing podcast.

Chris van Tulleken, one of Dr Mosley's co-presenters on Trust Me, I'm A Doctor, said he was "one of the most important broadcasters of the last few decades" as he paid tribute.

"He basically invented a genre of science broadcasting", he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Prof Tim Spector, who appeared on Dr Mosley's Just One Thing podcast, said his friend of 20 years was "humble, calm and self-deprecating" in a tribute published in the Telegraph.

"What I will miss most about Michael is not just his friendship and generosity but his amazing positivity", he wrote.

"He was immensely proud of his four children and they were a close family that kept him grounded and will be devastated that he left them so soon."

Abramo Teodoro Balsamo told the BBC the Just One Thing podcast "inspired me so much", adding: "It’s a terrible loss, I cannot still believe it.

"The void he is leaving is more than a mute signal on air."

Tara Moore said she was sending love to Dr Mosley's family, and the country was mourning his "untimely" death.

"Michael Mosley was a household name, if you had an ailment, chances are he'd covered it on one of his programs," she said.

"He demonstrated cause and effect in a way that everyone could understand, and many people have improved their health as a direct result of Dr Mosley."

Dr Mosley was also known for popularising the 5:2 and the Fast 800 diets, which advocate intermittent fasting and low-carbohydrate meals.

His diets attracted a lot of attention in the past, both for their methods and scientific accuracy.

In a statement, the Foreign Office said it was supporting the family of a British man who died in Greece, adding it was in contact with the local authorities.

Timeline

Wednesday 1330 local time (11:30 BST) - Dr Michael Mosley leaves Agios Nikolaos beach and sets off on a walk

1350 - He is seen on CCTV in Pedi

1357 - He is seen again at Pedi's marina heading north-east

Thursday 1115 - Police inform request assistance from the Greek fire department

1400 - Greek fire services, with firefighters and a drone team, arrive in Symi

1900 - Helicopter deployed to assist search

Friday - Divers join the search in the water around Symi

Saturday 0600 - Firefighters continue search

Sunday - Authorities looking for Dr Mosley find a body

Additional reporting by Nikos Papanikolaou and Sofia Ferreira Santos