Missing British tourist vanishes from sunbed next to husband as concern grows
Concern is growing for a missing British woman who disappeared three days ago from a beach sunbed as a search for her has been extended.
Michele Ann Joy Bourda, 59, was last seen on a sunbed on Friday August 1 at Ofryni beach, Kavala in Greece. Her husband is said to have been asleep when she disappeared. He woke up to find her missing, with her belongings still on the beach, reports the Mirror.
The alarm was then raised by her concerned family, according to Greek missing persons charity Lifeline Hellas, who put out a Silver Alert after police were unable to locate her.
An alert from the charity 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."
Greece's Hellenic Coast Guard have launched a search operation at sea and they are investigating the reports that her belongings were left on the beach. It is reported that three recreational craft, five fishing boats as well as two patrol boats have been involved in looking for Ms Bourda.
Michele is described as having straight blonde hair down to her shoulders, hazel eyes, is 1.73m (5ft 6in) tall and is thin. On the day she disappeared, she was wearing a two-piece swimsuit with rhinestones, yellow beach shoes and red sunglasses. She was apparently seen swimming at around 12pm.
And the investigation is now understood to have been extended with fears for her life. A source told The Sun: "We are giving it our all. There are still no signs as to whether she went missing on land or sea but right now there are no plans either to end this search.
"We are not at that stage." They added: "Michele is a British citizen who likely also had a home in the UK. There are coast guard boats and private boats out looking for her."
The beach near where she disappeared is surrounded by vegetation, houses and a large reservoir.
Ms Bourda is understood to live with her Greek husband in Serres, Macedonia.
The British embassy in Greece shared a notice on Facebook which read: 'Michele Ann BOURDA went missing on 01/08/2025 at the beach of Ofrynio in Kavala. On the day she went missing, she was wearing a swimsuit with decorative stones, yellow water shoes and red plastic sunglasses. Her life is in danger.'
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