DPA
London
The wife of a well-known British TV doctor and columnist said it is "devastating” to have lost her "wonderful, funny, kind and brilliant husband” as she confirmed he has been found dead on the Greek island of Symi after going missing on Wednesday.
Michael Mosley’s body was discovered in a rocky area beside Agia Marina on Symi on Sunday after an extensive search led by emergency workers, around a 30-minute walk from the village of Pedi where Mosley was last seen on CCTV.
The 67-year-old TV personality was with his wife and friends at Agios Nikolaos beach on Wednesday, before going alone for a walk to the centre of the island.
In a statement from his agent to the PA news agency, Dr Clare Bailey Mosley said: "I don’t know quite where to begin with this. It’s devastating to have lost Michael, my wonderful, funny, kind and brilliant husband.
"We had an incredibly lucky life together. We loved each other very much and were so happy together. I am incredibly proud of our children, their resilience and support over the past days.
"My family and I have been hugely comforted by the outpouring of love from people from around the world. It’s clear that Michael meant a huge amount to so many of you.
"We’re taking comfort in the fact that he so very nearly made it. 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 said the family are also "so grateful to the extraordinary people on Symi” who worked "tirelessly” to help find Mosley, with some working from dawn until dusk unasked.
Dr Bailey Mosley added: "I feel so lucky to have our children and my amazing friends. Most of all, I feel so lucky to have had this life with Michael. Thank-you all.”
Mosley’s four children joined their mother, a GP and cookery writer, on Symi earlier this week to help with the search effort.His body was discovered around mid-morning on Sunday beneath a fence that runs around a bar on Agia Marina beach, which is surrounded by hilly, rocky terrain.
Police arrived at Agia Marina around 20 minutes after the body was discovered about 90 metres from the coastline.