DR Michael Mosley’s wife has tragically confirmed her “brilliant” and “wonderful” husband has been found dead on the Greek island of Symi.

Clare Bailey said she was “devastated” by today’s discovery that brought an end to a treacherous five-day search, but said: “I feel so lucky to have had this life with Michael.”

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Dr Clare Bailey confirmed her husband’s death after his body was found on rocky ground on the Greek island of Symi this morning

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Emergency responders at the scene where Mosley’s body was discovered

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The last-known sighting of Dr Mosley alive was caught on CCTV carrying an umbrella as he leaves the village of Pedi at 2pm on Wednesday

A body was discovered this morning in rocky, barren land close to a beach bar and only a 30 minute walk from where Michael, 67, was last seen.

Clare, 62, who has been married to the TV doctor for nearly 40 years, has now confirmed the body belonged to her husband.

Before today’s discovery, she told the world she wouldn’t “lose hope” after her husband waved goodbye to her before seemingly vanishing on the Greek island of Symi on Wednesday.

The health expert’s disappearance sparked a major five-day search operation involving helicopters, divers, dogs, and drones and most of the tiny island’s 2,600 population.

In a heartbreaking statement shared with The Sun today, Clare thanked all those who had helped in the search for Michael, who was beloved by fans for his hit podcast and health advice.

She 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.

He did an incredible climb, took the wrong route and collapsed where he couldn’t be easily seen

Dr Clare Bailey

“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.

It comes as:

Dr Michael Mosley’s wife Clare Bailey confirmed the TV star had been found dead on the Greek island of Symi
His remains were discovered by a barman behind a fence in the Agia Marina area
The BBC star is believed to have taken a wrong turn while on a walk and ended up on a long mountainous trek
Dr Mosley vanished on Wednesday while on holiday with pals and his wife Clare
He was last seen on CCTV in the village of Pedi
His children Alexander, Jack, Daniel and Katherine had flown out to Symi to join the search
This Morning stars led celeb tributes to the popular health guru

“Michael was an adventurous man, it’s part of what made him so special.

“We are so grateful to the extraordinary people on Symi who have worked tirelessly to help find him.

Fears grow for Michael Mosley as mayor warns ‘no one can survive the heat’ & BBC star’s children join desperate search
“Some of these people on the island, who hadn’t even heard of Michael, worked from dawn till dusk unasked. We’re also very grateful to The Press who have dealt with us with great respect.

“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.”

The pair, who share four children, met at medical school and have been together for the 44 years ever since.

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Clare said she was ‘devastated’ by the news of the death and thanked the people of Symi for their help in the search

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The pair on their wedding day in 1987Credit: John Lawrence – The Sunday Times

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Dr Mosley’s body was found only 100 yards from the Agia Marina beach by a fenceCredit: PA

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The TV doctor is pictured before he went missing on the island of SymiCredit: Facebook
Tragically, Michael’s body was found just 100 yards from the path between Agia Marina and Symi Town that rescuers took to retrace his possible last steps.

His body was roughly only 100 yards away from the beach and close to a dangerous cave complex known to locals as “The Abyss”.

Police spokesperson Konstantina Dimoglou told The Sun earlier today: “He was found close to a cave. How long he had survived there is hard to tell but he had walked a very long way.

“He was close to where he wanted to get to.”

The Brit presenter, known for his appearances on The One Show and This Morning, had been last seen in CCTV footage at 2pm on Wednesday leaving the village of Pedi and headed towards a rocky path.

The mayor of Symi, Eleftherios Papakalodouk added: “We analysed the recorded evidence and it was obvious that it was, unfortunately, Mosley.”

The mayor said he was on a boat when he spotted a body lying 20m above the Agia Marina beach and called a nearby bar to have a look.

“We zoomed with the cameras and saw it was him,” he said.

Ilias Tsavaris, 38, the barman who first discovered Michael’s body on the rocky ground, told The Sun: “I walked up 30 metres and I saw an image of a person…

“I went closer and closer…And then I saw what I saw.

“You don’t see a dead body everyday, it is not a warzone, it’s summer you are supposed to have fun and swimming.”

Michael is believed to have taken a fatal wrong turn on a walk after leaving Clare at 1.30pm on Wednesday to walk inland.

All he had with him was an umbrella, his watch, rucksack, wallet and a bottle of water.

His body remained undiscovered until Sunday morning.

It was later removed at 2.50pm after officials, including forensic teams and firefighters, had combed over the area.

They were seen looking into a rucksack near the body before it was taken away and sent on a boat believed to be headed for Rhodes.

Mayor Papakalodoukas told Sky News there were no signs of injury on the body.

‘UNBEARABLE DAYS’

On Saturday, Clare spoke out for the first time to describe the search for her missing husband “as the longest and most unbearable days for myself and my children”.

In an emotional statement, she said: “It has been three days since Michael left the beach to go for a walk.

“The longest and most unbearable days for myself and my children.

“The search is ongoing and our family are so incredibly grateful to the people of Symi, the Greek authorities and the British Consulate who are working tirelessly to help find Michael.

“We will not lose hope.”

The pair met at medical school and have been together for 44 years ever since.

Timeline of Dr Mosley’s disappearance

WEDNESDAY JUNE 5

1.30pm: Dr Mosley decides to walk home alone to his holiday home in the town of Symi after going for a swim at a beach
1.50pm: The walk home is said to take around 20 minutes from Saint Nikolaos beach despite the doctor never making it back
1.52pm: CCTV catches Dr Mosley walking past a shop in Pedi
Approx 2.20pm: Witnesses claim to have seen Dr Mosley talking to an elderly man in the town with one other person present
2.30pm-5pm: Doc was last seen on a house camera on a treacherous path heading towards the Agia Marina
7.30pm: Dr Mosley’s wife, Dr Clare Bailey, raises the alarm and calls cops

THURSDAY JUNE 6

10.30am: Police file missing person report and the search gets underway
11am: Police appeal for any information
2pm: Six firefighters, a vehicle and a drone team were all seen arriving in Symi from Rhodes
7pm: Helicopters deployed over the island
8pm: First day of the search called off for the night

FRIDAY JUNE 7

7am Extra police squadrons, coast guard officials, specially-trained sniffer dogs and military helicopters helped in the search
5pm The first CCTV images are released of Dr Mosley with his umbrella near the Blue Corner bar

SATURDAY JUNE 8

7am Police launch a search of a new area of around 7km as they step up the hunt
10.50am: New CCTV is released showing Mosley leaving Pedi and heading towards mountainous path
11am Symi’s mayor says ‘no chance’ search will be called off until he is found
12pm Mosley’s wife Clare says the family will ‘not lose hope’ but confesses the last few days have been ‘unbearable’
3pm A helicopter joins the search effort in the mountains

SUNDAY JUNE 9

10.50am Body found in the search close to caves known as ‘The Abyss’
11am Police say they believe the body to be that of Dr Mosley
2.50pm Body was removed and taken away by boat
3.30pm Dr Clare Bailey confirms her ‘wonderful’ husband’s death

WHAT HAPPENED?

Dr Michael Mosley left Saint Nikolas beach on Wednesday at 1.30pm, where he had been with his wife Clare and two friends.

He is believed to have then walked alone along a coastal path without his mobile phone to Pedi.

He was caught on CCTV in the fishing village at 1.52pm close to a cafe in Pedi shielding himself underneath an umbrella.

Further CCTV, released to the public on Saturday, showed him then leaving Pedi and heading towards a rocky path in blazing temperatures of up to 37C.

Rescuers say he was likely heading back to their holiday accommodation in Symi town when he took a wrong turn while leaving the village of Pedi.

He was initially feared by cops to have “fallen from a height” as he walked the coastal path from the beach to Pedi, however CCTV footage confirmed he made it safely.

Michael is then understood to have headed northeast – ending up on a long and hard trek in rocky, difficult and barren landscape beneath a scorching sun.

Search teams and the mayor both told The Sun the walking route can be incredibly “dangerous” and “treacherous” with no shade.

Mayor Papakalodouka added that Mosley had no water, stating: “You can’t survive in this weather.”

Police on Friday night shifted their search away from the water and into the mountains where they worked around-the-clock to comb through the barren land.

The search continued on Saturday, with at least 100 rescuers and volunteers – including Michael’s adult children – focused on Agia Marina.

Michael’s body was not found until Sunday morning, which revealed he had managed to reach Agia Marina.

But tragically, just a few dozen metres from safety he seemingly collapsed behind a beach bar near a fence.

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Clare confirmed the news of her husband’s death todayCredit: Enterprise

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The second last sighting of Dr Mosley only 20 minutes after he left his wife at the beach to walk back aloneCredit: Reuters

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Ilias Tsavaris, a local bar manager, told The Sun of his horror as he discovered Michael’s body

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Over 100 rescuers, firefighters and volunteers took part in the search effortCredit: AFP

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Firefighters combing the mountain side after the search shifted to the rocky outcrops on Saturday

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A helicopter flying over the hills close to Pedi as part of the rescue missionCredit: Mirrorpix