The wife of TV doctor Michael Mosley says she is devastated to have lost her “wonderful, funny, kind and brilliant husband” on the Greek island of Symi.

The 67-year-old healthy living advocate, who had been a prominent face on TV in the United Kingdom for two decades, was found dead in a rocky area on Sunday morning, ending a four day search that included aircraft, drones and sniffer dogs.

“It’s devastating to have lost Michael, my wonderful, funny, kind and brilliant husband. We had an incredibly lucky life together. We loved each other very much,” Mosley’s wife, Dr Clare Bailey Mosley, said in a statement issued on her behalf.

“We’re taking comfort in the fact that he so very nearly made it,” she said.

“He did an incredible climb, took the wrong route and collapsed where he couldn’t be easily seen by the extensive search team.”

“Michael was an adventurous man, it’s part of what made him so special.”

Police spokeswoman Constantina Dimoglidou said the body of a person believed to be Mosley had been found in the area of Agia Marina, north of the village of Pedi and opposite the northeast beach of Agios Nikolaos where Mosley set out for his walk.

Authorities on the island of Symi have searched for Michael Mosley for four days. Photo: AAP

“It is certainly him,” said deputy mayor Nikitas Grillis, pending formal identification of the body, which was found on rocky terrain, close to the sea and near a beach bar.

The body was transferred to the neighbouring Dodecanese island of Rhodes for more tests after a police official said a coroner at the scene excluded any criminal act but could not determine the exact cause of death.

Symi mayor Lefteris Papakalodoukas said the discovery was made after he and others, including journalists from state TV channel ERT, filmed the area from a vessel.

“We analysed the recorded evidence and it was obvious that it was, unfortunately, Mosley,” Papakalodoukas said.

“He was found 10 metres away from the sea, 10-15 metres from his destination, the beach of Agia Marina, between a fence and a path,” adding that it was unclear what had happened.

ERT reported that Mosley was found lying face up, with his head on a rock.

 ‘Huge hole’ left

Executive producer and Head of BBC Studios Science Unit, Andrew Cohen, in a post on X, described Mosley as one of the very finest science communicators, a brilliant programme maker and a unique presenter.

Media medicine pioneer

TV doctor Alex George posted a tribute to Dr Mosley on Instagram, saying he brought health to the forefront of the national conversation.

“Dr Mosley triggered discussion and debates around health that encouraged us all to stop and think,” he said.

“Whether you agreed with everything or not, the importance of having health on the agenda has made such an impact on the lives of many”.

Mosley, who was on holiday with his wife, was last seen alive at 1.30pm on Wednesday.

His children had arrived on Friday on Symi, which is about 16km long and has 2500 residents, following his disappearance.

Mosley appeared on programs including the BBC series Trust Me, I’m a Doctor, the BBC’s The One Show and ITV’s This Morning.

“Absolutely devastating news,” said celebrity chef Jamie Oliver on Instagram.

“He did such a lot of good for public health with his TV shows and research.”

—with AAP