Michael Mosley's wife breaks silence after TV doctor found dead on Greek Island - 'It's devastating'

Symi Mayor Lefteris Papakalodoukas said the discovery of his body was made after he and others, including state ERT TV journalists, were filming the area from a vessel.

Now, Clare Bailey Mosley has issued a statement, paying tribute to her husband.

A statement read: "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.

"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."

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The statement continued: "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. 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.

"Thank you all."

Papakalodoukas told a press conference: "We analysed the recorded evidence and it was obvious that it was, unfortunately, Mosley.

"He was found 10 metres away from the sea, 10-15 metres from his destination, the beach of Agia Marina, between a fence and a path."

A coroner was on his way to Symi in a coast guard vessel, said a police official, adding that the body would be transferred to the neighbouring island of Rhodes. Mosley, who was on the island with his wife, was last seen alive at 1:30pm local time on Wednesday. His children arrived in Symi on Friday.

Symi, part of the Dodecanese island chain, is about 10 miles (16 km) long and has 2,500 residents.

Mosley has appeared on British programmes including the BBC series Trust Me, I'm a Doctor, the BBC's The One Show and ITV's This Morning. He popularised the 5:2 diet, which endorses intermittent fasting.

Speaking on GB News Breakfast, Anne Diamond said the news was "tragic."

She said: "In a way, thank goodness they have found him. At least the family know.

"What a tragic end to a brilliant man."