Michele Ann Joy Bourda disappeared after swimming at Ofrynio beach in Kavala in Greece at around noon on Friday – and now authorities are concerned for the tourist
A British tourist who vanished from her sunlounger on a beach in Greece while her husband was asleep is “used to swimming in cold water,” her neighbours said today.
Michele Ann Joy Bourda, aged 59, also often spends whole days rambling and exploring in the countryside, according to those who know her. They shed insights into her character and lifestyle, offering hope as a search for Michele enters its fourth day. Michele, who is retired, had been swimming at Ofrynio beach in the city of Kavala in Greece at around noon on Friday before she disappeared.
A targeted land and sea search for her has now ceased, according to the central port authority in Kavala, but Michele’s neighbours maintain hope. One said: “She has always dressed in walking gear with a fleece and boots or a cagoule. She is really into the outdoors.” It comes after a Brit who vanished in Paris was discovered safe some two weeks later.
A summer sports instructor said he saw someone who matched Michele’s description swimming near the beach on Friday. He said the woman didn’t appear to be in difficulty in the water.
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Michele, whose belongings were left behind on her sun lounger after she vanished, was described as very adventurous and active today. Her neighbours in Glasgow said she likes hiking and swimming in cold water.
One neighbour told Mail Online: “They’ve got bikes, and are quite active. They like to go walking, they like to go wild swimming.
“They would go, and they would often be away for the whole day in the summer, and then if we saw them coming in and out and they would say, ‘oh, we’ve been somewhere up north and we were swimming’. And I would see her sometimes sit and reading in the garden.”
The friends said they often see Michele and husband Christos out walking with backpacks on or loading the car for another day trip in the wild.
Another neighbour added: “They’ve couple are very private and keep themselves to themselves. She is very quiet and timid and he is a bit more commanding. They moved to Glasgow about six years ago because their son is studying here.’
“They are retired and tend to go everywhere together even though they have two cars. They are quite guarded and private but I’m very shocked that she has gone missing.”
Christos, who is Greek, had been sleeping and woke up to find Michele had vanished from the beach. He reportedly asked the owners of a nearby shop if they had seen his wife, but had no joy on Friday.