Michael Mosley police search area with 'loads of snakes' as his children arrive on island
The area where Dr Michael Mosley is believed to have gone missing has "loads" of snakes, according to the mayor. As the search entered its fourth day, the Symi mayor added that there was "no chance" that it would be called off until the TV doctor was found.
It came as the doctor's four children arrived on the island to join their mother Dr Clare Bailey to help with the search, according to mayor Eleftherios Papakaloudoukas, who spoke through a translator on Saturday (8 June) morning.
Mr Papakaloudoukas questioned how anyone could survive in the heat that topped 40C on the day Dr Mosley disappeared. He revealed the search dog was only able to work for an hour on Saturday morning due to the temperature, he added.
Symi’s mayor of more than two decades said the area where Dr Mosley is believed to have travelled through was “difficult to pass” and was “only rocks”. It is also populated by “loads” of snakes, he added. Mr Papakaloudoukas said he still hoped Dr Mosley would be found “safe and alive” and said “all the community is so sad about this, (it has) never happened before”.
Dr Mosley was spotted walking through the town of Pedi on the Aegean island of Symi, around 20 minutes after setting off from St Nickolas beach on a hiking trail on Wednesday, June 5. It is believed that he may have been embarking on a three-hour hike to the town of Symi or Gialos.
Police said on Friday that the coast guard, police and fire department were involved in the search, with a helicopter, drones and a police sniffer dog deployed. The island's mayor told the Mirror search and rescue teams were now focusing on a two-kilometre stretch of land between Pedi and Gialos after halting water searches.
He said: "They have not yet found anything - it is a mystery this disappearance. The police of Simi, the Coast Guard and forces from Athens, including police and criminal investigators, are working non-stop and will be working non-stop till they find any clue.
“I very much doubt there is a criminal aspect in this case. At least as far the local community is concerned. I very much doubt that any of the inhabitants of the island has acted in that way."
He added: "I do believe however, the elder man walking on his own without a phone in an unknown island and 35C of heat could lead to many conclusions.
"He could have had unknown health issues triggered by the heat and he could’ve wondered through unknown paths and had an accident. Had he followed the right path I believe that everything would have been okay”.
