A British woman who had disappeared from a sunbed on a beach in Greece was found dead due to drowning, authorities have confirmed. Michele Bourda, aged 59, went missing in the Greek city of Kavala on August 1 while her husband Chris, aged 66, was sleeping on Ofrynio beach. Her belongings were left on the beach, and when Chris woke up, she was nowhere to be found. The couple, hailing from Glasgow, were on a two-week holiday and had gone for a swim before taking a nap on nearby sun loungers.
After a month of her disappearance, Greek police located Michele’s body on a small privately-owned island called Fidonisi, approximately 40km from where she was last seen. The investigation concluded that her death was almost certainly a result of drowning, ruling out foul play. Michele was identified by the tankini she was wearing when she vanished.
According to forensic scientist Nikos Kifnidis, there were no other injuries found on her body, and her death was attributed to drowning. The swimsuit she was wearing, purchased in the UK, played a crucial role in her identification process. Chris expressed deep sorrow upon her identification, stating he did his best to recognize her as she was only bones, calling it a tragic event.
Chris criticized the police for their handling of the investigation, mentioning delays in the search process. He recounted his last moments with Michele, mentioning her previous struggles with depression and anxiety. Chris also highlighted the lack of police presence on the beach during the incident.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson stated they were assisting the family of the deceased woman in Greece and were in contact with local authorities.