The body of a British tourist who vanished from a Greek beach more than a month ago has been identified as Michele Bourda, Greek authorities confirmed. The 59-year-old's remains were discovered by a passing yacht on the islet of Fidonisi, about 25 miles from where she was last seen.
Her husband, Christos Bourda, told Greek media he was 'utterly devastated' and criticised the response of local authorities. 'The police and the coastguard were criminally slow in dealing with my wife’s disappearance,' he said, adding that he intends to press charges. He claimed it took police three hours to write a missing person report and that he spent much of the first day searching alone.
Michele Bourda, originally from Glasgow, was last seen on 1 August lying on a sunlounger at Ofrinio beach near Kavala. CCTV footage showed the couple eating crepes at a beach cafe hours earlier. Her husband, who had fallen asleep on an adjacent lounger, woke to find her gone. She left behind her personal belongings, including medication and a towel.
A search operation involving coastguard patrol boats and private vessels initially focused on the sea. After three days without results, the Greek police took over, deploying sniffer dogs and drones. A missing persons charity, Lifeline Hellas, issued a silver alert stating her life was 'in danger'. Officials now believe she drowned and her body was moved by strong currents before being found on the privately owned island. Autopsy results are pending.
