Social media users shocked after body is found in hunt for Dr Michael Mosley after Mail columnist went missing on walk on Greek island

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. 

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.'

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'. 

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.'  

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 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.