A British woman who vanished from her sunbed in Greece last month has been discovered, her husband has revealed.
Michele Bourda, 59, went missing on August 1 while her husband Chris, 66, slept at Ofrynio Beach in Kavala.
Belongings including glasses, medication and her towel were left behind, resulting in authorities launching a desperate search for Ms Bourda, who reportedly had “psychological problems”.
She was last seen wearing a two-piece beaded swimsuit, beach shoes and sunglasses, according to sources.
A month after the disappearance, her husband Chris on Thursday confirmed that Mrs Bourda’s remains have been found on the island of Fidonisi, around 25 miles down the coast.
Mr Bourda told the Daily Mail: “They have found her body. Sadly I was expecting this.”
He also blasted Greek officers as “useless” for failing to act quickly, saying: “The problem is the harbour police did not start their search until late at night and I don’t know what effect that had.
“They said they couldn’t find her, they claimed she had disappeared with an unknown man, but this was rubbish.”
He said rescue boats were only deployed in the early hours of the following day “so as not to disturb or concern the tourists”.
Recalling the moment his wife went missing, Mr Bourda said: “She had seemed quite happy that day. We went for a short swim as it was windy and there were a few waves.
She had seemed quite happy that day
“She then ordered a few crepes and said we could have a nice sleep after. Unfortunately I fell asleep first and when I woke up she wasn’t there.”
The pharmacist, who lodged a complaint with the British Embassy in Athens, said he felt abandoned, explaining: “The police are not bothered, they sit in their office in the shade or I’ve seen others just standing in the shade under some trees.”
Mrs Bourda, who worked for a local council and BT, had long battled anxiety and depression and had once gone missing in London after being made redundant.
The couple, who were married for 36 years after meeting at university in Germany, had been enjoying a six-week holiday after visiting family.
“We were talking the other day and she was saying how happy our 40 years together (were) and I said yes, we will hopefully have another 40 years in front of us,” Mr Bourda said.
