Dr Michael Mosley seen 'falling on rocky hillside' near where his body was found on Greek island

CCTV footage reportedly captured the moment Dr Michael Mosley stumbled near the location where his body was later discovered, with his widow expressing that he "very nearly made it" to safety. The exact circumstances surrounding his death remain a mystery, pending a post-mortem in Rhodes.

Dr Clare Bailey Mosley confirmed the tragic loss of her husband, whose body was found on Sunday morning, 9 June, in a rugged area close to Agia Marina beach on the Greek island of Symi, leaving her "devastated". Colleagues and fans have been sending their condolences and sharing their memories of the beloved TV doctor and health guru.

A beach bar's CCTV appeared to show Dr Mosley descending a rocky incline by a fence before disappearing from view, moments before he went missing. His bag was located a mere "20 feet" from where he lay, discovered by a film crew.

His bereaved wife said the 67 year old had embarked on an "incredible climb, took the wrong route and collapsed where he couldn't be easily seen", after parting from her and friends at Agios Nikolaos beach last Wednesday, 5 June. Search teams struggled to locate him due to the challenging terrain.

While initial assessments by a coroner suggest no foul play, further examinations are expected to take place in Rhodes to the exact cause of death for the father-of-four, reports the Mirror.

The nation is mourning the loss of beloved broadcaster, whose passing has triggered a wave of heartfelt tributes from family, fans, and colleagues.

BBC's Chris van Tulleken, who co-hosted Trust Me, I'm A Doctor with him, honoured his legacy as "one of the most important broadcasters of the last few decades".

"Michael wasn't just a rock solid friend, he was an incredibly generous human to everyone he worked with," Van Tulleken shared on X, the platform that has taken over from Twitter.

Van Tulleken also extended his deepest sympathies to his family and widow Clare, reminiscing about their recent live show which he described as "funny, informative, scientific, warm and centred around family".

Fellow Trust Me, I'm A Doctor presenter Dr Saleyha Ahsan called him "a national treasure" and praised his talent for making complex scientific concepts easily understandable.

Mimi Spencer, who collaborated with Michael on The Fast Diet, remembered him as "immediately likeable, genuinely funny" and full of "innate enthusiasm about life". Meanwhile, Brian Cox regarded him as a "mentor" to aspiring science broadcasters.

The star's career journey took him from medical training in London to becoming a renowned media figure presenting, creating documentaries, writing books, and penning columns.

In a touching statement released through her agent to PA news agency, Dr Bailey Mosley expressed her grief over the loss of her husband: "I don't know quite where to begin with this." she started.

"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."

She went on to express pride in their children's resilience during these difficult times. "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."

Offering her gratitude towards those who helped in the search for her loved one, she stated how grateful they are to the amazing locals who were "tirelessly" searching for her husband. "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."

Michael's four children joined their mother, a GP and cookbook writer, on Symi earlier this week to help with the search effort. His body was found mid-morning on Sunday under a fence close to a bar at Agia Marina beach, which is tucked away in hilly, rocky terrain.

Police were called to Agia Marina approximately 20 minutes after a body was found some 90 metres from the shore, with firefighters arriving shortly after 2pm to transport the body from the island by boat. On Saturday, an emergency services helicopter spent several hours scouring the rugged terrain of Symi, between Pedi bay and Agia Marina, before eventually hovering over the location where the body was discovered.

Ilias Tsavaris, 38, the manager of Agia Marina bar, spotted the body alongside reporters following a tip-off from the local mayor who "saw something" near the bar's fence. The extensive search operation, conducted under challenging conditions and sweltering heat, involved police, firefighters equipped with drones, Greek Red Cross personnel, divers, a search dog, and a helicopter.

Greek officials redirected their efforts on Saturday after surveillance footage from a residence at the edge of a small marina in Pedi captured the TV presenter walking towards a mountain trail around 2pm on Wednesday. Sophie Laurimore, managing director of The Soho Agency which represented Mosley, expressed "profound sadness" at the loss of the "wise, wonderful and lovely man".

She stated: "Our hearts are with Clare and the children. Michael was unique. The work he did was important. We will miss him dreadfully."