"She was all bones": Body of 59-year-old tourist found on a remote beach in Greece

The mother from Glasgow who disappeared while on vacation with her husband in Greece has now been found dead.

A body has been found on the small Greek island of Fidonisi. Now there is sad certainty as to who it is – Michele Bourda from Glasgow, who has been missing for weeks.

Her husband Chris confirmed that the Greek police had discovered a body on the small private island of Fidonisi, around 40 kilometers from the beach where the 59-year-old was last seen.

The British woman, who last lived with her husband in Scotland, disappeared more than a month ago on a beach near the northern Greek town of Kavala. Her disappearance triggered an extensive search operation at the time. The body was discovered by the crew of a passing yacht.

Her husband, pharmacist Christos Bourda, who is of Greek origin, confirmed the identification to the media and expressed his deep sorrow. At the same time, he made serious accusations against the authorities and accused the police and coastguard of having reacted too slowly during the initial measures.

Michele Bourda was last seen on August 1 on the popular beach of Ofrinio, where she was resting on a sun lounger. A few hours earlier, surveillance video from a café had shown the couple eating together. Her husband then fell asleep on a sun lounger. When her husband woke up, his wife had already inexplicably disappeared. Personal belongings such as a towel, medication and bag were left behind on the beach.

The search initially focused on the sea: coastguards, fishing boats and private vessels combed the area. The police later took charge of the investigation and moved the search inland. A special team with sniffer dogs from Athens and drones were also deployed for two weeks. Despite these measures, Michele remained untraceable.

Officials now assume that Bourda drowned and that her body was carried to the coast by currents. A final clarification is to be provided by the pending autopsy. According to reports, the condition of the body has made identification difficult. It was said to be "all bones" and the head was missing, Glasgow Live reported.

The husband's grief is great. The couple had known each other for decades, had a daughter together and last lived in Glasgow. Chris recalled their last hours together. Despite the windy weather, they had gone swimming one last time and had crepes afterwards. Michele had said she was looking forward to a relaxing nap. But while he had fallen asleep, she had disappeared without a trace.

It is known that Michele has struggled with depression and anxiety in the past. During a stay in London, she had already disappeared briefly during a stressful phase in her life, but was quickly found at the time. Her husband emphasized that she had recently seemed stable and was looking forward to their trip together.

Chris again criticized the authorities and said it was important that consequences were drawn from the case. "It shouldn't take three hours to write a missing persons report before the search begins," said Bourda.

The Greek police investigation is ongoing. The British Foreign Office is also involved in the case. For the family and friends of Michele Bourda, an agonizing period of uncertainty now ends with a sad certainty.

We would also like to express our deepest sympathy to the family and bereaved family of Michele Bourda. We wish everyone involved much strength during this difficult time.