People on social media have expressed their grief after a body was found in the hunt for 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 a body was found by staff at a nearby beach bar after being alerted by the mayor who had spotted something ‘unusual’ from the sea. The body was found at Agia Marina around 30 minutes walk from Pedi where he was last seen.
People known to Dr Mosley and fans of his work have taken to social media to share their heartbreak at the news.
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.’
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.’
Sharing the tragic news with his followers on X, Piers Morgan called the discovery a ‘very sad development’.
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.’
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.
On Saturday a Greek fire brigade helicopter hovered overhead the spot where the body was found.
Police arrived around 20 minutes after it had been discovered – around 100 metres from the shoreline.
A short while later a coastguard boat arrived and anchored just off the beach while a small tender with more officers arrived to the scene.
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.
He then called the beach restaurant and alerted staff who rushed over towards what he had seen with a group of British journalists who had remained behind.
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.