logo
British woman's ‘life in danger' after vanishing from beach in Greece

British woman's ‘life in danger' after vanishing from beach in Greece

Independenta day ago
Greek authorities are desperately searching for a British woman who vanished from a beach while her husband reportedly lay asleep.
Michele Ann Bourda, aged 59, was reported missing from Ofryni beach in Kavala on Friday.
Local media has reported that the woman had been relaxing on a sunbed next to her husband before he woke up to find she was gone at around noon.
Her family notified authorities and an investigation was launched to find her. But despite sea and land searches over the weekend, she remains missing.
On Sunday, three recreational craft, five fishing boats and two patrol boats were reportedly involved in the search operation.
'Three days may have elapsed, but there are no plans to call off the operation yet,' a coastguard official told The Guardian.
Lifeline Hellas, a Greek missing persons charity, also issued a social media appeal over the weekend.
It read: 'Her life is in danger.If you know anything, contact the Silver Alert service, 24 hours a day, at the National SOS Line 1065.'
She is described as thin and 5ft 7inch tall, having blonde hair down to her shoulders and hazel eyes.
On the day she disappeared she was wearing a two-piece swimsuit with rhinestones, yellow beach shoes and red sunglasses.
The UK embassy in Athens also shared a post on social media on her disappearance.
Local media reports that the woman lived with her husband, who is thought to be of Greek origin, in nearby Serres.
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British woman who is missing in Greece and are in contact with local authorities'.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Cold-case 1986 disappearance of nurse after going on date with boyfriend she planned to dump solved in saddest way
Cold-case 1986 disappearance of nurse after going on date with boyfriend she planned to dump solved in saddest way

Daily Mail​

time6 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Cold-case 1986 disappearance of nurse after going on date with boyfriend she planned to dump solved in saddest way

The remains of a woman found on the Arizona-Nevada border have finally been identified as those of a Southern California nurse reported missing in 1986 after planning to break up with her boyfriend. Carol Ann Riley, from San Diego, disappeared after she had scheduled a dinner date with her boyfriend and told friends she intended to dump him, according to the Mohave County Sheriff's Office. Riley's remains were discovered at Lake Mead in May 1987 after a person rounding up steers near Bonelli Landing found a human skull on the ground. More remains were found in a shallow grave in the area, but they went unidentified until just last month, when dental records confirmed the match, authorities said. Riley's boyfriend, known as Robert Howard Smith, told police at the time of her disappearance that she had cancelled their date. Just two days later, he left town and 'dropped out of sight,' the sheriff's office said. Investigators discovered that Smith's real name was Robert Dean Weeks, who had a history of adopting aliases and was also connected to another disappearance in Nevada. Weeks' ex-wife, Patricia Weeks, had vanished from Clark County in 1968 just a few weeks after their divorce was finalized. Her body was never found. Carol Ann Riley (pictured) , from San Diego, disappeared after she had scheduled a dinner date with her boyfriend with the intention of dumping him Riley's remains were found at Lake Mead in May 1987 after a person rounding up steers near Bonelli Landing (pictured) found a human skull on the ground Riley's then-boyfriend, later identified as Robert Dean Weeks (pictured), told police that Riley had cancelled their date. Just two days later, he 'dropped out of sight' Weeks also dated a real estate agent, Cynthia Jabour, who disappeared in 1980 after the pair had a dinner date scheduled where she also planned to end their relationship, authorities said. He had also got into an argument with a business associate, James Shaw, who disappeared in 1971. Shaw's bloodstained car was found abandoned in a Las Vegas parking lot. Shaw and Jabour were ever found. A warrant was issued for Weeks' arrest for fraud and embezzlement charges related to his business, and he was found and arrested in Arizona after he was featured on the popular TV show Unsolved Mysteries. At Weeks' trial, two of his children with ex-wife Patricia took to the stand and detailed 'how their father had beaten their mother on numerous occasions,' according to the Charley Project. In April 1988, he was convicted of murdering Patricia and Jabour, and sentenced to life in prison in Nevada. He was never charged with the murder of Riley or Shaw. He died in prison in 1996. The dental comparison between the remains and records of Riley confirmed that the body was that of the missing nurse Unsuccessful attempts to match Riley's remains to DNA or dental records occurred in 2011, 2024 and 2025, before the Mohave County Sheriff's Office Special Investigations Unit was contacted by the Mohave Medical Examiner's Office. 'An email received indicated that a forensic odontologist and staff from the Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit, California Department of Justice, had worked on dental comparison of the Jane Doe victim and Carol Ann Riley,' the sheriff's office said in a release. The dental comparison between the remains and records of Riley confirmed that the body was that of the missing nurse.

British tourist's son defends Crete hotel staff after pool death
British tourist's son defends Crete hotel staff after pool death

Telegraph

time7 hours ago

  • Telegraph

British tourist's son defends Crete hotel staff after pool death

The family of a British woman who died in a swimming pool at a hotel in Crete have defended members of hotel staff who were arrested. Margaret Winifred Davies, 78, lost consciousness in the pool of the five-star Knossos Royal in Hersonissos, on the north coast of the island. Initial reports claimed a 21-year-old lifeguard was absent from her post at the time. She was arrested along with the hotel's director, 51, and its general manager, 41, by Greek police and questioned on suspicion of manslaughter by negligence. They were later released without charge. The British tourist's relatives said there were in fact two lifeguards on duty and both of them helped Mrs Davies. She was pulled from the water and received first aid before being taken to hospital, but was pronounced dead. The family insisted the hotel staff were in no way at fault for her death. They confirmed that staff were questioned by police but said no charges had been laid. 'Our 78-year-old mother passed away tragically while on holiday in Crete at the Knossos Royal hotel. While we would have liked to grieve in private, we feel compelled to address some of the misleading reporting that has been published in recent days,' said Paul Davies, her son. 'We are awaiting the results of the autopsy so cannot comment on the cause of death, but we would like to make clear that we do not hold the hotel responsible. Winifred got out of the pool herself and was assisted by two on-duty lifeguards. 'We would like to thank the hotel and the British consulate for their support. We ask that our privacy be respected at this painful time.' In a statement, the Knossos Royal expressed its 'sincere condolences and deepest sympathy' to the family and denied any wrongdoing. 'From the very first moment we were informed about the guest's discomfort, the hotel management responded to the incident with complete responsibility, seriousness, and professionalism, providing immediate assistance, support, and every possible medical aid to her. This response was recognised and appreciated by the family.' Under investigation Hotel managers said the matter was under investigation and the cause of death would be clarified when a forensic report was released. 'According to current medical assessments, the guest's death is attributed to pathological causes, with no indication of external negligence,' their statement said. The hotel occupies a prime position on the northern coast of Crete. Its website says the venue boasts several swimming pools, which are 'designed to appeal to all senses and play an important role in the resort's architectural structure'.

Michele Ann Joy Bourda's last known steps mapped as mystery over missing Brit deepens
Michele Ann Joy Bourda's last known steps mapped as mystery over missing Brit deepens

Daily Mirror

time9 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Michele Ann Joy Bourda's last known steps mapped as mystery over missing Brit deepens

Michele Ann Joy Bourda had been swimming at Ofrynio beach in the city of Kavala at around noon on Friday, August 1, before disappearing as authorities launched a large scale search British authorities and Greek rescue teams are still searching for a missing 59-year-old woman after she vanished from her sunbed while visiting a beach in Greece. ‌ Michele Ann Joy Bourda, a British national, disappeared from Ofrynio Beach, located in Kavala in northern Greece, on August 1. The beach, located on the Strymonian Gulf coast, is around 37 miles away from the northern Macedonian city of Serres, where Michele was temporarily living with her Greek husband. ‌ She was lounging on a sunbed beside her husband who had fallen asleep when he awoke around midday to find her gone. Her personal belongings - including a beaded two‑piece swimsuit, yellow water shoes, and red (bone-rimmed) sunglasses - remained on the beach. ‌ READ MORE: Warning to Brits who risk £2,500 fines in Spain for common holiday mistakes Greek authorities quickly launched a large-scale search operation, deploying the Hellenic Coast Guard along with patrol boats, fishing vessels, and leisure craft to comb both the coastal waters and surrounding land areas. The operation has expanded across the entire Strymonian Gulf, with no signs of Michele. It's still unclear whether she went missing on land or in the sea. ‌ Police teams searched the beach and adjacent terrain to no avail. On August 2, LifeLine Hellas, a Greek charity, issued a Silver Alert, typically activated for vulnerable adults, warning the public that Michele's life may be at risk. They urged anyone with information to contact the National SOS Line 1065. The British embassy in Athens confirmed they are supporting Michele's family and local authorities. A local sports instructor reported seeing a woman resembling Michele swimming in deep waters and cautioned her not to go further out. This remains the only confirmed sighting since her disappearance. ‌ Michele Bourda, described as 5 feet 6 inches tall with straight blonde shoulder‑length hair and hazel eyes, had lived in Serres, northern Greece, with her husband for some time. Neighbours described her as outdoorsy, and fond of wild swimming and walking. Authorities have not ruled out any scenario - including accidental drowning, disorientation, or foul play. A search focus on coastal areas has shifted over time, though patrols continue. ‌ Michele's neighbours maintain hope. One said: "She has always dressed in walking gear with a fleece and boots or a cagoule. She is really into the outdoors." One neighbour told Mail Online: "They've got bikes, and are quite active. They like to go walking, they like to go wild swimming. "They would go, and they would often be away for the whole day in the summer, and then if we saw them coming in and out and they would say, 'oh, we've been somewhere up north and we were swimming'. And I would see her sometimes sit and reading in the garden." Christos, who is Greek, had been sleeping and woke up to find Michele had vanished from the beach. He reportedly warned locals that his wife was "not very well" and had "disappeared before" as he frantically asked for help trying to find her after she vanished from a Greek beach on Friday.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store