This Morning reporter describes moment he spotted the body of Dr Michael Mosley

This Morning reporter David Blackmore has spoken about how he helped find the body of Dr Michael Mosley when he joined a search team on the tiny Greek island of Symi. The devastating news that a body had been found in the five-day search for the missing television doctor was announced on Sunday morning.

CCTV that has since been released is understood to have captured the moment the doctor stumbled near the location where his body was later discovered, with his widow stating he "very nearly made it" to safety. The circumstances surrounding his death remain a mystery, as Greek authorities have transported his body to Rhodes for an autopsy.

Dr Clare Bailey Mosley has identified the body found on Sunday morning in a rugged area close to Agia Marina beach on the Greek island where they had been holidaying, expressing that the loss is "devastating". Colleagues and numerous followers of his health advice have been paying their respects

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A beach bar's CCTV system reportedly shows what seems to be the well-known TV doctor descending a rocky incline by a fence before disappearing from the camera's view. His bag was subsequently located "20 feet" from where the health guru was discovered, after being noticed by a film crew.

That film crew was led by This Morning reporter David Blackmore who was on a search boat with the local mayor when they spotted a strange object near the shore.

David joined Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard from Symi on Monday (June 10) to tell viewers what had happened saying: "It is such a sad ending to a story we all hoped would have a better outcome. It has been assumed that he was walking back to accommodation after leaving Agios Nikolaos beach at lunchtime, but when his wife returned at 7.30pm, she couldn't find him anywhere and raised the alarm."

After spotting something unusual from the boat, David said: "When the search heard that there was CCTV of him leaving Pedi and heading up to this mountainous, rocky terrain was when the search really changed.

"There was a four-mile radius over the rocky terrain. They sent up helicopters, drones and dogs. To put it into context how hot it has been out here, the dogs could only go out for an hour or so most days."

Speaking about going out on the rescue boat, he explained; "We were keen to go and find the caves. I had spoken to the mayor and some Greek television journalists and they took us out on a water taxi. There were some tourists on the boat with us. We went up to go to the caves and looked back to get a perspective of where we were when we spotted something that was dark, something that was unusual by a concrete fence.

"We couldn't see what it was but when we took the footage back to Pedi, that we zoomed in until we recognised it was a male body. At that point the mayor contacted all the relevant authorities, and one of the barmen in the nearby resort went out and identified it was a body."

Dr Mosley was very close to the bar, and David said: "That is one of the questions that needs to be asked. He was so, so close. You cannot put into context how close he was. The heat that they had on that day, to get over the hill and see the resort and get so close, it is heartbreaking."

He added: "It is such a small island but the local people really hoped he would be found alive. He didn't have his mobile on him. I was really surprised that we spotted the body where it was bearing in mind where the helicopters had been going up. It must have been the perspective we had from the boat."

Dr Mosley's bereaved wife remarked that the 67-year-old, who vanished after parting ways with his wife and companions at Agios Nikolaos beach on Wednesday, appears to have attempted an "incredible climb, took the wrong route and collapsed where he couldn't be easily seen" by the search teams involved in the emergency effort.

Dr Bailey Mosley released a heartfelt statement saying "I don't know quite where to begin with this."

She expressed her profound loss: "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 and were so happy together.

"I am incredibly proud of our children, their resilience and support over the past days. My family and I have been hugely comforted by the outpouring of love from people from around the world. It's clear that Michael meant a huge amount to so many of you."

Reflecting on the circumstances of his death, she said: "We're taking comfort in the fact that he so very nearly made it. 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."

The family has also expressed immense gratitude towards the local community: "We are so grateful to the extraordinary people on Symi" who dedicated themselves to the search, some working from dawn until dusk unasked.

"I feel so lucky to have our children and my amazing friends. Most of all, I feel so lucky to have had this life with Michael. Thank you all."