Social media users shocked after body is found in hunt for Dr Michael Mosley after Mail columnist went missing on walk on Greek island
People on social media have expressed their grief as police confirm the body found on the Greek island of Symi is Dr Michael Mosley.
The Mail health guru, 67, went missing during a walk on the Greek holiday island of Symi on Wednesday.
A major operation was launched to find the doctor after he vanished while hiking alone in blistering 36C (97F) heat.
Today his body was found by staff at a nearby beach bar after being alerted by the mayor who had spotted something 'unusual' from the sea.
People known to Dr Mosley and fans of his work have taken to social media to share their heartbreak at the news.
Dr Michael Mosley, 67, (pictured) went missing during a walk on the Greek holiday island of Symi on Wednesday
The resort of Agia Marina, the location where his body was found
Jamie Oliver penned a heartfelt message on Instagram which said: 'Rest in peace Michael Mosley…. Absolutely devastating news about the sad loss of fellow TV presenter Michael Mosley today.
'What a wonderfully sweet, kind and gentle man he was. he did such a lot of good for public health with his TV shows and research.
'He was a curious investigator, producer and presenter and often changed the conversation around many public health issues for the better. He will be sadly missed….love and thoughts to Claire and all of his family.'
Broadcaster Dr Phil Hammond, who said he was given his TV break by Dr Mosley, told Sky News: 'As well as his enthusiasm... he had an encyclopedic brain, he was just across every single story.
'If Mike's legacy is that some of the advice that he gave about exercise and diet and keeping in shape can be more widely dispersed, that would be I think, a fitting legacy.'
Speaking of her time alongside Michael Mosley as a co-presenter on Trust Me, I'm A Doctor, Dr Saleyha Ahsan said: 'Michael's a national treasure and he's so personable. Not everyone is able to make other people feel so at ease with lights and cameras in front of them.
'But then to forget about all of that and just to focus on the science, on the story, on the message that we're trying to get out, is such a talented man, hugely talented.'
She told Sky News: 'I think the last few days everyone was just hoping for a different scenario, a different outcome.
'Michael is resourceful. I mean his entire career he has used his body, he's pushed his body to extremes in the name of science, in the name of finding better health outcomes for the rest of us.'
Sharing the tragic news with his followers on X, Piers Morgan called the discovery a 'very sad development'.
People known to Dr Mosley and fans of his work have taken to social media to share their heartbreak at the news
Professor Alice Roberts wrote on X: 'Extremely sad news from the Greek island of Symi where it seems the body of Michael Mosley has been found, after five days of searching for him. My heart goes out to his family.'
She continued: 'The fragility of life is so shocking. I’ve known Michael Mosley for many years - as a TV producer specialising in science and medicine.
'He was the executive producer of my 2009 series Human Journey. When he started presenting as well as producing, we made several science programmes together. And we met up at Hay Festival just 2 weeks ago.
'I can’t believe he’s gone. My thoughts are with his bereaved family.'
Author Tom Watson said: 'It's hard to describe how upset I am by this news.
'Through courageous, science-based journalism, Michael Mosley has helped thousands of people get well and healthy. I'm one of them.
'He was a hero to me. He will be deeply missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.'
British singer Nerina Pallot took to X, formerly Twitter, and said: 'Unbearably sad news about Michael Mosley that I think a lot of people will be upset by.
'You may never have met him, but if you lost weight because of one of his books and felt better as a result there will be some part of you that felt indebted to him.
'There’s lots of parasocial nonsense on here but this is one instance where a lot of people will feel like they lost a helpful friend. Thanks for everything, Dr Mosley.'
Professor Brian Cox wrote on X: 'Tragic news about Michael Mosley. He was such an important figure both on and off screen in the BBC science unit, and as a mentor to many of us when we started out in science presenting.
'And, as many of our colleagues have already said on here, he was a genuinely lovely man. So sorry for his family. RIP Michael.'
Adam Kay, author of This is Going to Hurt, said: 'Desperately sad news about Michael Mosley. My thoughts with his family - may his memory be a blessing.'
Sue Kay wrote: 'What dreadful, unbearable news for his family.
'He will be missed by thousands of people for his excellent work to help us live a better life.'
Writer Jan Fox added: 'This is so sad. How quickly life can change. Just terrible for his family.'
One fan of his work said: 'It always feels a bit still to feel sad when someone you've never met dies - but something about people who you see on the telly, who you enjoy watching, makes it feel like you knew them, even though, of course, you don't. RIP Michael Mosley.'
Another added: 'This man saved my life. His books and knowledge helped me to reverse T2 diabetes.. I have been in awe of his work ever since.
'Since Wednesday I have been glued to the news in the hope that you would be safely found. Your wife and family will be understandably devastated.
'You are a legend and I'm so very very sorry you couldn't be saved. Thank you for everything.'
Dr Mosley was one of Britain's best known medics, whose revolutionary diet advice made him beloved by millions of Daily Mail readers and TV viewers.
Known for his open nature and effervescent personality, he achieved worldwide renown for popularising the 5:2 diet and released a string of best-selling books.
Ted Verity, Editor of Mail Newspapers, said: 'Everyone at the Mail is absolutely devastated to hear of the death of Dr Michael Mosley.
'Michael wasn't just a unique and unmissable columnist. He was part of the Mail family.
'Since he first wrote for us in 2011, we have published hundreds of his weekly columns and serialised many of his best-selling books - from the ground-breaking fast diets to others on gut health and sleep.
'It's no exaggeration to say that over the years Michael's insights - especially his revelation that you CAN reverse type two diabetes - will have extended, and even saved, the lives of countless readers.
'In person, whether warning of the perils of skimmed milk or enthusing about his latest madcap experiment on his own body, Michael was as electrifying as he was in print and on TV.
'What shone through was his irrepressible curiosity - he was always hungry to learn about the very latest, cutting-edge science and medicine and then explain it to readers in a way that was both engaging and comprehensible to a mainstream audience.
'Michael was also extremely kind, not hesitating to be one of the first to offer his home as sanctuary to a Ukrainian family.
'And he always spoke with enormous love and warmth of his wife Clare, his co-author on many projects, and four children Alexander, Jack, Daniel and Katherine.
'Our hearts go out to them all.'
The diet guru's wife, Dr Clare Bailey (pictured together), a GP and also a columnist for the Mail, raised the alarm after her husband failed to return from a hike
Dr Mosley with his wife Clare on their wedding day in 1987 nearly 40 years ago
Dr Mosley – well known for BBC programmes including Trust Me, I'm A Doctor and The One Show as well as a Radio 4's Just One Thing – was staying with friends in a villa in the centre of Symi port.
On Saturday a Greek fire brigade helicopter hovered overhead the spot where his body was found.
Police arrived around 20 minutes after Dr Mosley had been discovered - around 100 metres from the shoreline.
A short while later a coastguard boat arrived and anchored just off the beach.
Mayor Eleftherios Papakaloudoukas had accompanied media to Agia Marina but was on his way back to Pedi when he looked back and saw something unusual on the rocks.
The waiter who found the TV doctor's body, Mr Tsavaris, said: 'The mayor had been here to give interviews to the media and then left on a boat to return to Pedi.
'From the sea he saw something unusual and then he called the restaurant and asked them to check it out.
'I was sent up there and as I turned the fence to go up I saw a glint from a watch and I then I saw the body at the same time.'
The picture of Dr Mosley posted with an appeal after he went missing while walking on holiday in Greece on Wednesday
Mayor of Syimi Eleftherios Papakalodouka who alerted the beach resort manager after he thought he saw something 'unusual' from the sea
Police first filed a missing person report for Dr Mosley at 10.30am on Thursday and by midday each of the emergency services in Greece had joined the search on the tiny island of Symi.
The medic was seen leaving Saint Nicholas beach towards the town of Pedi, via a rocky path with steep sections.
CCTV footage showed him passing a café in the town, northeast of the holiday island of Symi.
