A search operation is underway for a well-known British TV doctor and medical journalist who vanished while on holiday in Greece.
Dr Michael Mosley – who popularised intermittent fasting for weight loss – set off on a hike along St Nicholas Beach on the island of Symi at 1.30pm on Wednesday but failed to return.
Greek police said a broad search and rescue operation involving firefighters, civil protection personnel and volunteers had been underway on Symi, on the eastern side of the Aegean Sea, since Wednesday.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
At least one sniffer dog, drones and a helicopter are also involved.
Senior police spokesperson Constantina Dimoglidou told the Daily Mail that ongoing searches had so far been unsuccessful.
“We have now asked the fire brigade to assist in the operation in case he may have slipped, tripped, fallen, or even bitten by a snake, remaining injured somewhere,” he said.
“There is just no trace of him. None whatsoever and that means that for us at least, every potential scenario is being investigated.”
A community Facebook group appealed for information, uploading a picture of Dr Mosley in shorts, a blue polo shirt, a baseball cap and sunglasses.
The 67-year-old broadcaster is known for his 5:2 diet, also known as the Fast Diet, which allows ‘normal’ eating for five days of the week, then fasting for two non-consecutive days a week.
He’s also an international bestseller with titles including The Fast 800, The Clever Guts Diet, The Fast Diet, Fast Exercise and The 8-Week Blood Sugar Diet.
Mosley has four children with his wife Dr Clare Bailey, who he had been holidaying with. She is also a doctor, author and health columnist and has written recipes for his diet books.
– with AP