‘My mate Michael Mosley didn’t need to die’: Australian of the Year James Muecke mourns death TV star’s death
Adelaide-based former Australian of the Year James Muecke says he is devastated by the death of his mate, British TV doctor Michael Mosley.
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James Muecke says he is devastated by the “horrible” and “unnecessary” death of his friend, British TV doctor Michael Mosley.
The Adelaide-based 2020 Australian of the Year believes Dr Mosley was likely following his adventurous nature when he made the fatal decision to walk a rocky Greek island path in scorching temperatures earlier this month.
“I’m a similar creature in that I often take the adventurous route. At times in the past, that’s got me into hot water,” says Dr Muecke, who appeared in the British doctor’s 2020 documentary series Australia’s Health Revolution.
“As a medical doctor, he was so deeply understanding of many things … but obviously the heat got him before he realised how severe his predicament was. It makes it so tragic because it just didn’t need to happen.”
Dr Mosley’s body was found next to a wall – just metres from safety – on June 9, five days after he had been reported missing.
It appeared the 67-year-old had attempted to employ his medical knowledge in his final moments, elevating his legs in an attempt to stay conscious.
“He obviously had enough sense of mind to try to stay conscious but not enough energy in his body to keep going. Nature can be unforgiving and harsh and even the canniest of explorers and adventurers and the canniest of doctors can run into trouble,” said Dr Muecke.
Last year, the Adelaide ophthalmologist said he found himself in a similarly perilous position while walking the mountains of Corsica on one of the world’s toughest treks.
At the end of a long, hot day, he and his mates stumbled on a stream where they could cool down.
“If that wasn’t there at the end, it might have been a different story,” he said.
“I realised how quickly things can change from being hydrated and healthy to being dehydrated and disorientated. If you don’t have water and the opportunity to cool yourself down, it can spell disaster.
“It’s just a horrible thought to even begin to imagine what Michael went through in his last hours. His death was so unnecessary and that’s the tragedy of it.”
Dr Muecke met the “delightful, engaging” Dr Mosley in 2020, when the TV star filmed the new Australian of the Year’s address at the National Press Club for his SBS documentary series.
“The next day I facilitated a metabolic health assessment initiative for politicians on the grounds of Parliament House in Canberra, which was featured in the documentary,” said Dr Muecke.
“Michael’s wife, Claire Bailey, and my wife, Mena, spent time together, taking a tour of Parliament House while we were busy filming.
“We bonded immediately over our shared passion to improve the metabolic health of Australians and potentially reverse type 2 diabetes in some patients.
“I’d read several of his books and so was aware of his work, especially with sleep – I’m a chronic insomniac. I was also interested in his work on intermittent fasting, which I practise myself.”
Dr Muecke, who was at the Perth launch of the SBS series in 2021, said he maintained his friendship with Dr Mosley in the years after the documentary.
He hosted his “valuable mentor” Dr Mosley and Ms Bailey for lunch at his home when they visited Adelaide last year.
“If anything positive is to come out of the untimely loss of Michael Mosley, it’s that more people and doctors across the globe will now be aware of his work – the extraordinary opportunity to improve our poor health with intermittent fasting and by reducing our consumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates,” Dr Muecke said.
“We are both heartbroken for Claire and the family.”
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