'I think that says a lot.' Police confirm how Dr Michael Mosley died on Greek island of Symi.

Dr Michael Mosley, the well-known British doctor, medical journalist and TV personality, has tragically passed away at age 67.

The author of the intermittent fasting 5:2 Diet, was reported missing after disappearing on a coastal walk during a holiday on the Greek island of Symi on Wednesday.

"It is certainly him," deputy mayor Nikitas Grillis told Reuters on Sunday after his body was recovered that weekend. 

Now Greek authorities have reportedly confirmed Dr Mosley's cause of death, an initial autopsy determining he most likely died of natural causes on Wednesday afternoon.

He is believed to have taken a wrong turn and subsequently ended up on a two-hour trek in harsh conditions and scorching heat. Amid the rocky landscape, the temperature on this day would have been over 40 degrees Celsius.

Police officials told The Sun that Dr Mosley sat down for a final rest just a few yards away from the safety of a bar before he lost consciousness and died.

Five days later his body was reportedly recovered behind a fence next to a beach bar on the other side of Symi. 

The initial post-mortem report found no injuries on his body that could have caused his death, other than natural causes. Investigations are continuing.

Mosley's wife, Dr Clare Bailey issued a statement following confirmation of her husband's death. 

"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," she said. 

"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."

Dr Bailey met Dr Mosley at medical school and were married for 37 years. She said she was "incredibly proud" of her family during this difficult time. 

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

"We analysed the recorded evidence and it was obvious that it was, unfortunately, Mosley," Papakalodoukas said. "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."

The coast guard and fire fighters had been deployed to the scene, a Reuters witness said.

A coroner was on his way to Symi in a coastguard vessel, said a police official, adding that the body would be transferred to the neighbouring island of Rhodes.

Dr Mosley, who was on the island with his wife, was last seen alive at 1.30pm on Wednesday. His children arrived in Symi on Friday.

Symi, part of the Dodecanese island chain, is about 16km long and has 2500 residents.

Saleyha Ahsan, a doctor who worked with Mosley at the BBC gave her "heartfelt condolences" to Dr Mosley's family.

"He lived and breathed his work," she told Sky News. "He was an inspiration."

Dr Mosley was best known for the BBC series The One Show, Trust Me I'm a Doctor, with regular appearances on This Morning and as host of the BBC podcast Just One Thing.

Dr Mosley's work in medicine and television resulted in him winning many awards, including Medical Journalist of the Year by the British Medical association, and a Royal Television Award. In 2002, for his work as an Executive Producer of The Human Face with John Cleese, he was nominated for an Emmy.

He also presented on Australia's Sleep Revolution and Australia's Health Revolution on SBS.

On June 5, Dr Mosley's wife Dr Clare Bailey, filed a missing persons report to the local police after Mosley failed to return from an afternoon coastal walk by 7:30pm. 

The local police launched a search operation and a search and rescue team were sent from Athens, with drones, search dogs and helicopters sent to help retrace Dr Mosley's route. 

The local community appealed for information following the disappearance, posting on the Symi community Facebook group.

"Have you seen this man? He set off to walk back from St Nick's at about 13.30 and failed to make it home."

This article was originally posted on June 9, 2024, and has since been updated with new information.

With AAP.

Feature Image: Getty.