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Daily Mirror
3 days 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.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
Glasgow woman who vanished from sun lounger in Greece pictured hours before disappearance
Michele Ann Joy Bourda, 59, disappeared at around midday from Ofrynio beach in Greece on August 1. Missing tourist Michele Ann Joy Bourda was pictured enjoying breakfast at a cafe with her husband just hours before she vanished. The 59-year-old, who is understood to live in Glasgow, had been swimming at Ofrynio beach in the city of Kavala at around noon on Friday before she suddenly disappeared. The search for Michele has now entered its fifth day. A fresh image released to the media in Greece shows her eating alongside husband Christos at the beach-side restaurant on the morning of her disappearance. At the time, she was seen wearing a dark swimming costume and sunglasses. She was pictured talking to her husband Christos, who is Greek, who is pictured in the snap wearing a white cap. Mr Bourda was asleep when she disappeared at around midday on August 1. He then raised the alarm before racing to a local shop to ask if staff had seen her. Speaking to Protothema, the shopkeeper said: "The couple were together and at some point the husband fell asleep and it seems that the wife went in to swim. When the husband woke up and didn't see her next to him, he came to the store and asked us if we had seen his wife, who had disappeared. "He also told us that his wife was not very well, and that she had problems." As reported in the Mirror, Mr Bourda was understandably "stressed" when he entered the shop, the man said, as the hunt for his missing wife continues. Greek missing persons charity Lifeline Hellas put out a Silver Alert later that day 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." Michele is described as having straight blonde hair down to her shoulders, hazel eyes, is 1.73m (5ft 6in) tall and is thin. 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.' A summer sports instructor said he saw someone who matched Michele's description swimming near the beach on Friday. He said the woman didn't appear to be in difficulty in the water. Michele was described as very adventurous and active today. Her neighbours in Glasgow said she likes hiking and swimming in cold water. 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. "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." The friends said they often see Michele and husband Christos out walking with backpacks on or loading the car for another day trip in the wild. Another neighbour added: "They've couple are very private and kept themselves to themselves. She is very quiet and timid and he is a bit more commanding. "They moved to Glasgow about six years ago because their son is studying here. They are retired and tend to go everywhere together even though they have two cars. They are quite guarded and private but I'm very shocked that she has gone missing." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Haunting last photo of Brit tourist before she vanished from sunbed while husband slept
The search continues for 59-year-old British woman Michele Ann Joy Bourda, who went missing from a beach in Kavala, northern Greece, last Friday Missing Michele Ann Joy Bourda was pictured enjoying breakfast at a cafe with her husband just hours before she vanished. The British tourist had been swimming at Ofrynio beach in the city of Kavala at around noon on Friday before she suddenly disappeared. Fears are growing for the 59-year-old, as the search for her has now entered its fifth day. Now a new image, released to Greek media, shows her eating alongside husband Christos at the beach-side restaurant on the morning of her disappearance. Wearing a dark swimming costume and sunglasses, she is seen sitting and talking to her husband Christos, who is Greek, who is pictured in the snap wearing a white cap. Mr Bourda was asleep when she disappeared at around midday on August 1. It comes after a Brit who vanished in Paris was discovered safe some two weeks later. The image obtained by Greek outlet ANT1 reportedly shows Mrs Bourda eating with her partner at the cafe near the beach where, just three hours later, she went missing from. Her husband woke to find her gone, before raising the alarm before the distressed man raced to ask a local shop owner if he had seen her. Speaking to Protothema, the shopkeeper said: "The couple were together and at some point the husband fell asleep and it seems that the wife went in to swim. When the husband woke up and didn't see her next to him, he came to the store and asked us if we had seen his wife, who had disappeared." Mr Bourda was understandably "stressed" when he entered the shop, the man said, as the hunt for his missing wife continues. Greek missing persons charity Lifeline Hellas put out a Silver Alert later that day after police were unable to locate her. She is understood to live with her husband in Glasgow, Scotland. 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. 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." It comes after girl, 3, was found dead on beach by a horrified passer-by. Michele is described as having straight blonde hair down to her shoulders, hazel eyes, is 1.73m (5ft 6in) tall and is thin. 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.' A summer sports instructor said he saw someone who matched Michele's description swimming near the beach on Friday. He said the woman didn't appear to be in difficulty in the water. Michele was described as very adventurous and active today. Her neighbours in Glasgow said she likes hiking and swimming in cold water. 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. "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." The friends said they often see Michele and husband Christos out walking with backpacks on or loading the car for another day trip in the wild. Another neighbour added: "They've couple are very private and keep themselves to themselves. She is very quiet and timid and he is a bit more commanding. "They moved to Glasgow about six years ago because their son is studying here. They are retired and tend to go everywhere together even though they have two cars. They are quite guarded and private but I'm very shocked that she has gone missing."
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Missing Brit's husband's heartbreaking plea when he woke up to find wife gone
There has been no sign of 59-year-old Michele Ann Joy Bourda since Friday - her frantic husband Christos raced to a nearby shop to beg for help when he woke to find his wife gone Michele Ann Joy Bourda's husband ran into a local shop begging for help when he discovered his wife had vanished. Fears are growing for the missing British woman who disappeared on holiday as the search for her enters a fifth day. The 59-year-old was last seen on a sunbed at Ofryni beach, Kavala in Greece on Friday. Her husband Christos, who is Greek, was asleep when she disappeared at around midday on August 1. He woke up to find her missing, with her belongings still on the lounger. The alarm was then raised by her concerned partner, and the distressed man raced to ask a local businessman if he had seen her. It comes after a Brit who vanished in Paris was discovered safe some two weeks later. Speaking to Greek outlet Protothema, the shopkeeper said: "The couple were together and at some point the husband fell asleep and it seems that the wife went in to swim. When the husband woke up and didn't see her next to him, he came to the store and asked us if we had seen his wife, who had disappeared." Mr Bourda was understandably "stressed" when he entered the shop, the man said, as the hunt for his missing wife continues. Greek missing persons charity Lifeline Hellas put out a Silver Alert later that day 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." It comes after girl, 3, was found dead on beach by a horrified passer-by. Michele is described as having straight blonde hair down to her shoulders, hazel eyes, is 1.73m (5ft 6in) tall and is thin. Ms Bourda is understood to live with her husband in Glasgow, Scotland. 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. 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.' A summer sports instructor said he saw someone who matched Michele's description swimming near the beach on Friday. He said the woman didn't appear to be in difficulty in the water. Michele was described as very adventurous and active today. Her neighbours in Glasgow said she likes hiking and swimming in cold water. 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." The friends said they often see Michele and husband Christos out walking with backpacks on or loading the car for another day trip in the wild. Another neighbour added: "They've couple are very private and keep themselves to themselves. She is very quiet and timid and he is a bit more commanding. "They moved to Glasgow about six years ago because their son is studying here. They are retired and tend to go everywhere together even though they have two cars. They are quite guarded and private but I'm very shocked that she has gone missing."
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Cops probing 'sighting' of Brit woman who vanished from sunbed next to husband
Michele Bourda, 59, who vanished from a beach in Kavala, is described as having straight blonde hair down to her shoulders, hazel eyes, is 1.73m (5ft 6in) tall and is thin Investigators have been tipped off about a potential sighting of the British woman who vanished from a sunbed on a Greek beach while her husband slept. The disappearance of Michele Ann Joy Bourda from the Ofrynio beach in Kavala, Macedonia sparked a huge search operation with the coast guard also scouring the sea for any sign of her. A sports instructor has now come forward, saying he saw a woman resembling the missing Brit swimming in deep waters. He even warned her against going out any further, according to LBC. It comes after a newlywed's heartbreak as husband and baby daughter are killed during honeymoon. A spokesperson for the Greek coast guard said the search has been extended to cover a larger area, and that it would continue until Michele was found. Speaking to The Sun, they said: "Patrol boats are now focused on the entire Strymonian Gulf and it will continue. There is no change in this operation." The Hellenic Coast Guard is also 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 Michele. Her husband, who was asleep at the time of her disappearance, then woke up unable to find his wife. Police could not find her, adding there were "no signs" of the missing Brit. Missing persons charity Lifeline Hellas, then launched a Silver Alert to raise the alarm. 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." 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. Jennifer Frances Lacey, 41, went missing from Vera on Monday, July 28. Her disappearance was reported by the SOS Missing Persons Association. She is described as measuring 5ft 2in and having curly brown hair, blue eyes and wears prescription glasses. Investigations are ongoing into whether Jennifer is a tourist or a resident. SOS Missing Persons is urging locals with information about her whereabouts to contact them by calling 868286726 or emailing them directly. People currently in Spain are also advised to call the emergency number 112.
