The wife of TV doctor and journalist Michael Mosley has issued her first public statement since her husband went missing on the Greek island of Symi earlier this week.

Dr Clare Bailey Mosley has said the days since Dr Mosley went missing had been "the longest and most unbearable" and "we will not lose hope".

The 67-year-old has not been seen since he left a beach for a walk on Wednesday (June 5) while on holiday with Dr Bailey Mosley.

Dr Mosley’s wife has been searching the island joined by her British friends, Symi's mayor Eleftherios Papakaloudoukas told a translator, according to PA news agency.

The couple's four children have since arrived on the island, Mr Papakaloudoukashas added, and are set to help with the search for the missing television personality.

Dr Michael Mosley's wife issues emotional statement on husband's disappearance

In her statement reported by the BBC, Dr Bailey Mosley 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 search continued this morning (June 8) at 6am and firefighters started scouring a 6.5km radius over a mountainous area that is surrounded by sea, said Manolis Tsimpoukas, who organises searches for missing people on the Dodecanese Islands.


Who is Dr Michael Mosley?


It is understood Dr Mosley was last seen by CCTV on a grey-stoned house beside a harbour on the island.

He may have walked along a steep uphill concrete road.

At the end of the street, a small rocky path leads into the rocky landscape which has little vegetation beyond thistles and dry grass.

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Symi’s mayor of more than two decades revealed the area where Dr Mosley is believed to have travelled through is “difficult to pass” and is “only rocks”.

It is also populated by “loads” of snakes, he said.

Mr Papakaloudoukas hoped Dr Mosley is found “safe and alive” and said “all the community is so sad about this, (it has) never happened before”.