Major development in missing doctor search as new CCTV emerges

Rescuers in a desperate search for missing doctor Michael Mosley have broadened their focus to include a notorious maze of tunnels.

Rescue workers have been spotted searching a maze of tunnels dubbed “The Abyss” as they race against time to locate missing TV doctor Michael Mosley.

The British presenter, 67, vanished on Wednesday on the Greek island of Symi and rescuers fear he could have made a “wrong turn” on the treacherous rocky path.

As the gruelling search across rough terrain continues in extreme heat, firefighters were seen on Saturday afternoon local time entering the coastal area known by locals as “The Abyss”, The Sun reports.

The rocky outcrop features a network of water-filled “bottomless” tunnels close to Agia Marina – where the search is now concentrated.

A waiter at a nearby beach told The Telegraph: “It’s like a deep system of tunnels, but it is full of water and can spread for kilometres.

“If there is a hole and you fall, you lose your sense of balance and drown there.”

Greek officials on June 7, 2024 said they had broadened a search for British journalist and television presenter Michael Mosley a day after he went missing on the Aegean island of Symi. Picture: AFP.

The new footage will give rescuers a better idea of Mosley’s movements. Picture: BBC News

The television personality — who is known in Australia for his appearances on SBS — vanished after leaving a beach he was at with his wife to go back to his accommodation.

“The path is not easy to follow, if he took a wrong turn, he would be lost. He could be anywhere; it is a race against time,” one rescuer said.

‘Unbearable days’

In a statement shared with the BBC, his wife Clare, 62, said: “It has been three days since Michael left the beach to go for a walk.

“The longest and most unbearable days for myself and my children.

“The search is ongoing and our family are so incredibly grateful to the people of Symi, the Greek authorities and the British Consulate who are working tirelessly to help find Michael.

“We will not lose hope.”

Clare is understood to be searching the island with her British friends for any trace of the missing TV personality.

Michael and Clare Bailey Mosley were on holidays in Greece when he vanished.

The doctor’s four children have flown to the Greek island to assist in the search.

Alexander, Jack, Daniel and Katherine, who are all adults, were yesterday scouring the route on Symi where he was known to have walked.

Newly released CCTV footage, obtained by the BBC, appears to show the 67-year-old walking with an umbrella next to the marina in the village of Pedi on Wednesday – towards rocky hills at roughly 2pm.

It is believed to be one of the last two CCTV sightings of Mosley that helped shift the search focus to the perilous mountain path.

Local Mayor Eleftherios Papakalodoukas had said earlier the belief among firefighters was that it would be “impossible” for Dr Mosley to still be in the Pedi area of Symi.

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

Mr Papakalodoukas said he believed it was most likely that the TV doctor either “followed another path” or had fallen into the sea.

Two rescue workers have now told The Sun a house camera caught Dr Mosley walking away from the village minutes after he was caught on the CCTV.

The rescue workers believe Dr Mosley took a three-hour treacherous route towards the Agia Marina by foot as cars can’t get past the rough terrain, the newspaper reported.

They said it was very easy to get lost going through the rocky path as it goes inland and doesn’t follow the sea.

Police said officers, helicopters and drones have been deployed to the area as the search continues for its fourth scorching-hot day. The mayor also insisted there is “no chance” the search will be called off until Mosley is found.

Missing TV doctor Michael Mosley has been spotted on CCTV. Picture: Reuters

British public broadcaster BBC, which Dr Mosley presents on, reported that the CCTV footage in Pedi was time stamped at 1:50pm, suggesting he was in the village about 20 minutes after he was last seen on the beach.

“We know now that he crossed the path, that he made it to the other side and got to Pedi,” a police officer told The Sun.

“Now we have to look at all the possible paths he could have taken from there.”

There has been no sign of the star despite a massive search involving police, a sniffer dog, firefighters, the coastguard, divers, and volunteers.

Locals described the disappearance as strange given the size of the island and its population of about 1600.

“The place is very small. A little kid can’t get lost here. How does a man get lost?” one man who had lived there all his life, Antonis, told BBC.

Symi Mayor Eleftherios Papakalodoukas said: “This is a small place and it is difficult for a man to just disappear.”

The security footage is significant as it shows he made it to the village. Picture: Reuters

Dr Mosley’s wife Clare reported him missing on Wednesday evening. Greek journalists reported he was understood to have told his wife and friends on the beach he was not feeling well and wanted to return to their accommodation.

He did not have his phone on him.

Dr Mosley was likely using an umbrella to shelter from the heat, with temperatures climbing above 40C that day.

Dr Mosley is a British TV presenter. Picture: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images

Bus stop sighting

The CCTV is not the first sighting of Dr Mosley.

A Symi local came forward to allege that they had seen him standing at a bus stop in Pedi at 2pm on Wednesday, Greek newspaper Proto Thema reported.

That would have been about 30 minutes after he left the beach, and shortly after he was captured on the CCTV.

To reach the house where he was staying, Dr Mosley would have had to walk a path about 1km long and then take a bus, the paper said.

Symi Deputy Mayor Nikitas Gryllis said: “The route is passable, it is a passable path. Many old people and foreigners do it. It is only dangerous if you go near the rocks.

“There is testimony that he was seen at two in the afternoon at the bus stop. There is no information if he got on the bus and if he got off at a certain stop.

“The person who saw him has also told this to the police and the fire department.”

Dr Mosley pictured on the Greek island of Symi before he went missing. Picture: Facebook

Concerned Facebook post

A community Facebook group on Symi shared a photo of Dr Mosley wearing a blue polo shirt, a cap and sunglasses, appealing for information.

The post read: “Have you seen this man? He set off to walk back from St Nick’s at about 13.30 and failed to make it home.

“His friends are concerned as it is six hours since they last saw him.

“His name is Dr Mike Mosley and he is a familiar face for many British people as he has appeared on the BBC.

“The police and coast guard have been informed EMAK, the island’s rescue team, is also involved.”

– with Brielle Burns