Greece American tourist a retired cop, 59, not returned from a solo hike, Amorgos Island, 11 June 24

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imstilla.grandma said:
The body of the 74-year-old Dutch tourist was found by a Fire Service drone lying face down in a ravine about 300 meters (330 yards) from the spot where he was last observed Sunday, walking with some difficulty in the blistering heat.

On Friday, two French tourists were reported missing on Sikinos, a relatively secluded Cyclades island in the Aegean Sea, with less than 400 permanent residents.

The two women, aged 73 and 64, had left their respective hotels to meet.

A 70-year-old American tourist was reported missing Thursday on the small island of Mathraki in Greece's northwest extremity by his host, a Greek-American friend. The tourist had last been seen Tuesday at a cafe in the company of two female tourists who have since left the island.

Mathraki, population 100, is a 3.9-square-kilometer (1.2-square-mile) heavily wooded island, west of the better-known island of Corfu. Strong winds had prevented police and the fire service from reaching the island to search for the missing person as of Saturday afternoon, media reported.

On the island of Amorgos, authorities were still searching for a 59-year-old tourist reported missing since Tuesday, when he had gone on a solo hike in very hot conditions.

U.S. media identified the missing tourist as retired Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff Albert Calibet of Hermosa Beach, California.

Amorgos, the easternmost of the Cyclades islands, is a rocky 122-square-kilometer (47-square-mile) island of less than 2,000 inhabitants. A couple of years ago the island had a record number of visitors, over 100,000.
www.voanews.com

Dutch visitor dies on Greek island, 4 foreign missing

In the past few days, several tourists in the Greek islands have died or gone missing
www.voanews.com www.voanews.com
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This is so sad. I am in Greece now, sadly leaving today. It’s been very hot both on the mainland and the islands. I went on a couple of solo hikes and a group hike. I kept mine 2 hours or less in the early morning or evening and it was still very hot and I drank multiple liters of water on each. I am an experienced hiker and a well-conditioned athlete and hiking in the middle of the day here is not an option for me. I see the appeal since it’s so beautiful but it’s quite dangerous
RickshawFan said:
Ummmm, that's not my experience in Greece.....The Greek islands are MUCH hotter than Europe. Those rocks RADIATE heat, and the trails are dusty and rubbly. They suck the juice out of you. You are getting salted from the air over the sea. No way you're taking a long hike at mid day, especially as a foreigner. The heat may be worse at 2, but it's AWFUL at noon. At noon, you're hanging out at a taverna, under an umbrella, lounging with a cold beer, iced coffee, and a good lunch.

IME hiking in lowland Greece would be like hiking in Big Bend NP in summer. Or on Cascades lava.

Foreign hikers could very easily have issues a) in the sun, b) taking the wrong turn, and c) because of lack of water or shade. They may think there's water en route, and find none. They'd need electrolytes, too. Very easy for a foreigner to underestimate any of this. It would be very likely to walk off trail in a desperate search for either water or shade.

I've been all over Greece, and IIRC have never felt a breeze on land (except maybe in the remote mountains or down at a harbor). On a boat, yes, but all I can remember is the stillness of the air on land. It's very intense.
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In my experience over the last couple of weeks, it has been extremely windy at times. On Paros last weekend I was relaxing by the pool midday and my half-full drink blew off the table shattering my glass. While the breeze was nice, I still wouldn’t consider a hike safe midday.

I also experienced extreme wind on Sifnos. I think the side of the island you’re on can make a difference.

Athens was still heat with no wind or breeze and very little shade.

I do agree that the rocky terrain radiates heat. It’s shocking. One night I was on the rocks around 11pm dancing at a wedding and the heat from the rocks was so overwhelming that many of us jumped in and out of the water.
 
AMORGOS-Éric Albert Calibert

According to both his relatives and his friend, with whom he was present in Amorgos, the police don't give details about the investigations.
"Two high-ranking police officers have come from America to assist in the investigations, but the Greek Police are not helping them. These officers are trained to find people through cell phones. But no one from ELAS tells us about the location of the two mobile phones so that the investigations can be focused there and search a specific area. We have also requested the assistance of the Anubis special team, but the Police is even delaying sending the request," said the friend of the American tourist.
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https://www.patrisnews.com/chtenizoyn-tin-amorgo-oi-astynomikoi-gia-ton-amerikano-toyrista-pithani-kai-i-dolofonia-toy/
 
AMORGOS-Éric Albert Calibet

According to both his relatives and his friend, with whom he was present in Amorgos, the police don't give details about the investigations.
"Two high-ranking police officers have come from America to assist in the investigations, but the Greek Police are not helping them. These officers are trained to find people through cell phones. But no one from ELAS tells us about the location of the two mobile phones so that the investigations can be focused there and search a specific area. We have also requested the assistance of the Anubis special team, but the Police is even delaying sending the request," said the friend of the American tourist.
Click to expand...

https://www.patrisnews.com/chtenizoyn-tin-amorgo-oi-astynomikoi-gia-ton-amerikano-toyrista-pithani-kai-i-dolofonia-toy/
 
She said that Calibet called her just before he left to go on a hike. At about 9.20am local time on Tuesday, he had sent an image from the trailhead sign. That was the last time she heard from him

Amorgos, the easternmost of the Cyclades islands, is a rocky 122-square-kilometer (47-square-mile) island of less than 2,000 inhabitants. A couple of years ago the island had a record number of visitors with over 100,000 making the trip.
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Second tourist found dead on Greek islands in days with others missing

The tourist was reported missing last week by his friend and host
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Dr Mohit Mandiratta, resident GP on BBC Breakfast, has warned of the complications even the healthiest people can face in the heat. He told The Independent: “Heat can affect anyone, including fit and healthy people, and be very serious if not treated immediately.

“It can come on quickly, over minutes, or gradually over hours, so it’s important we all stay alert to symptoms.”

Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition that occurs when your core body temperature reaches 40C or higher and must be treated immediately.

Retired US police officer Eric Calibet disappeared while out on a solo hike on the island of Amorgos in the southeast of the country on Tuesday afternoon, reports Rich Booth.

Mr Calibet, 59, knew the area well having been visiting the island almost every year for about a decade.

He left for a four-hour hike, from Aegiali to Katapola around 7am.
“We’re almost on three days here,” his brother Oliver Calibet told Fox 11 TV in Los Angeles. “There’s no water … I’m very distraught.”
Eric Calibet, 59, had been vacationing on the island but was reported missing by a friend on Tuesday afternoon

Greek state TV meteorologist Panos Giannopoulos said the country has seen its earliest reported heatwave: “In the 20th century we never had a heatwave before 19 June. We have had several in the 21st century, but none before 15 June.”
www.independent.co.uk

Greece heatwave 2024: New fire ‘every ten minutes’ amid hunt for arsonist

Searches ongoing for two French women and a retired US deputy county sheriff in Cyclades
www.independent.co.uk www.independent.co.uk
 
A frantic search is underway for the former LA Sheriff's Department Deputy Albert Calibet, who was last seen hiking on the small island of Amorgos

86213871-13537683-image-a-29_1718617538025.jpg

www.dailymail.co.uk

Two more tourists die in extreme temperatures in Greece amid heatwave

On Sunday, a 55-year-old American was found dead by another tourist on a remote rocky beach on the island of Mathraki after he was reported missing by a friend on Thursday.
www.dailymail.co.uk www.dailymail.co.uk

“The problem of missing hikers is not new — we have it every year,” said Constantina Dimoglidou, a police spokesperson. “But this year, it seems more people became disoriented during the heat wave.”

One of the missing was Albert Calibet, 59, a retired police officer who is a dual citizen of France and the United States, on the Aegean island of Amorgos
www.hawaiitribune-herald.com

Deadly toll in Greece as heat waves sweep the country

<p>ATHENS, Greece — Heat waves that have swept across Greece this month continued to exact a deadly toll over the weekend, with authorities on Sunday reporting the death of an American on a Greek island. At least five tourists remain missing across Greece.</p>
www.hawaiitribune-herald.com www.hawaiitribune-herald.com

On the island of Amorgos, also in the Cyclades, authorities are still searching for a 59-year-old tourist reported missing since Tuesday, when he had gone on a solo hike in very hot conditions
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

Second tourist found dead on Greek island as others are missing

The man was found by another tourist on a beach
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
 
Someone posted a video on the Amorgos FB page that was made by Albert's brother this morning before heading out to continue searching. He is devastated and frustrated that there is hardly any support for the search. He said there are 6 of them from the US searching for their relative/friend. He said he personally hasn't seen any helicopters but did see a couple of drones and a few Greek personnel on the ground. He understands that Greece only has so much in resources to put toward the search but he had expected some help from the US government, but there has been none. You can see the pain he is going through as he admits that Albert is likely dead, but is holding onto the 1% hope.

He created the video out of frustration.
 
Snoopster said:
Someone posted a video on the Amorgos FB page that was made by Albert's brother this morning before heading out to continue searching. He is devastated and frustrated that there is hardly any support for the search. He said there are 6 of them from the US searching for their relative/friend. He said he personally hasn't seen any helicopters but did see a couple of drones and a few Greek personnel on the ground. He understands that Greece only has so much in resources to put toward the search but he had expected some help from the US government, but there has been none. You can see the pain he is going through as he admits that Albert is likely dead, but is holding onto the 1% hope.

He created the video out of frustration.
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Yes, I've seen that video. Heart wrenching.
 
This seems to be the last location for him. I'm curious - are searchers walking the trails that he would have taken? It's a small Island. There are not too many places that he could be.

I initially thought that he took the trail along the monastery, but he could have taken the route that is slightly to the West.

Topo Map and marked trails
 

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Herat said:
I'm sorry, I am not able to find the new bulletin that mentioned the news.

I don't know why.
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This includes the interview clips with brother and gf. I didn't post it initially because it originally had the same "misleading" headline as mentioned previously... and I knew it would cause confusion. :(

 
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fred&edna said:
This includes the interview clips with brother and gf. I didn't post it initially because it originally had the same "misleading" headline as mentioned previously... and I knew it would cause confusion. :(

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The very real frustration of the family members of Eric Albert come through in that video. They deliberately brought along their own experienced LE searchers and it really sounds as if they are not getting much help from the Greek LE other than sharing the drone footage.

I have to assume the trail he was on has been thoroughly walked back and forth multiple times by most all the searchers, including the American ones that just came over. Mention of the cell phone data appears to indicate it was present in the early part of his hike in the more NW corner of the island. As the daytime temperatures return to a more normal range, it will be possible for searchers to go farther afield of the route. There are several small side hikes that do from the main route, one of which goes down to the water on the eastern side of the island.

The account of the woman who sold him the soda and water really needs to be confirmed, or at least her presence and location confirmed by others who hiked that day. As her info pinpoints the critical 2 hour mark, it is imperative to get independent confirmation of her being there that day. I am concerned that at the 2 hour mark he is just at the abandoned group of houses and church where there is a dirt road. I still don't feel foul play is out of the question although the extreme heat would account for any number of unanticipated actions of his under the delirium of heat stroke.

And - why are there no more updates from the family search?
 
Herat said:
The very real frustration of the family members of Eric Albert come through in that video. They deliberately brought along their own experienced LE searchers and it really sounds as if they are not getting much help from the Greek LE other than sharing the drone footage.

I have to assume the trail he was on has been thoroughly walked back and forth multiple times by most all the searchers, including the American ones that just came over. Mention of the cell phone data appears to indicate it was present in the early part of his hike in the more NW corner of the island. As the daytime temperatures return to a more normal range, it will be possible for searchers to go farther afield of the route. There are several small side hikes that do from the main route, one of which goes down to the water on the eastern side of the island.

The account of the woman who sold him the soda and water really needs to be confirmed, or at least her presence and location confirmed by others who hiked that day. As her info pinpoints the critical 2 hour mark, it is imperative to get independent confirmation of her being there that day. I am concerned that at the 2 hour mark he is just at the abandoned group of houses and church where there is a dirt road. I still don't feel foul play is out of the question although the extreme heat would account for any number of unanticipated actions of his under the delirium of heat stroke.

And - why are there no more updates from the family search?
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ITA with everything you just stated.
 
otto said:
This seems to be the last location for him. I'm curious - are searchers walking the trails that he would have taken? It's a small Island. There are not too many places that he could be.

I initially thought that he took the trail along the monastery, but he could have taken the route that is slightly to the West.

Topo Map and marked trails
Click to expand...

Yes, that's the location. The vacant group of houses and a church known as Asphodilitis on the signboards for the hike.

The dirt road ends there, there is a "cafe" there on a map, along with the church.

I note just north of there is a spur trail that leads east down the steep eastern side to the water's edge at a place called Chalara. There are stone field walls and what looks like a possibly abandoned stone structure there. I wonder if there was a well in that region that he might have been trying to reach. A very remote place to build a farmhouse if you did not have a water source.

Here are some comments about the Asphondilitis area from people who have made the Aegali to Chola hike:

"Rocky and a lot of sun. Wear shoes. Taverna in the middle is probably only open in main season!"

"There is a small shop (I think) and a parking lot approximately in the middle point of the trail."

"Diverse trail, of moderate difficulty with some parts more challenging (especially on windy days). Allows you to cross half the island and enjoy great views of the Aegean from both sides. The first part (up to the first point I have highlighted) was more fun for me. If you find it too long, you can easily cut it short either at the first point I have highlighted or at Asfontilitis."

I think the possibility also exists that he decided to walk down the dirt road there to get to the main road and hitchhike to his destination in Kapatola. So that opens a new zone of search along that road and the west side main road and seaside.

 
There's a reason that people in that part of the world shut everything down at lunch time and open up again at 5 p.m. The warm breeze with the hot sun is not the right time for a long hike. He started the 4 hour hike after 9 a.m.

As an experienced hiker who has made the hike a number of times, I'm surprised that he bought water during his hike rather than carry water with him from home.
 
otto said:
There's a reason that people in that part of the world shut everything down at lunch time and open up again at 5 p.m. The warm breeze with the hot sun is not the right time for a long hike. He started the 4 hour hike after 9 a.m.

As an experienced hiker who has made the hike a number of times, I'm surprised that he bought water during his hike rather than carry water with him from home.
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The photo that has been circulated from him before he started shows him with a fairly large pack and two bottles hanging from one hand. I would assume those would be two bottles filled with water, perhaps a liter, each.

The large pack looks like what he, as an experienced traveler to the area, would have brought for his entire trip and could be accounted for if he was maybe moving locations from the north to the south end of the island and was hiking with ALL his luggage and two bottles of water. It bothers me because this is clearly not a daypack for a quick hike. I also don't see hiking poles on the pack. Some people who took the same trail reported they needed hiking poles because of the rocky foot base underneath. Maybe he just didn't use hiking poles on a place he knew well.

Why else would he be seen carrying his trip baggage and the two bottles in the streets of Egaili on the day of the hike unless he was hiking with them? He had experience with this trail and seemed to be very fit. Not a difficult thing to do if the weather is mild and there is little wind.

That would be perhaps 20 pounds of weight vs a light daypack and water at about 5 pounds. Certainly, if he was in distress from the heat or injured, he could have jettisoned the pack somewhere and moved on thinking he was going to find help. And taken the water bottles with him.

We have no information that he mentioned checking out of his lodgings or moving locations. But I don't see a reason for him to be carrying that pack that morning unless he was planning on moving to another location like Kapatola and staying there, rather than returning to his gear in Egaili.

So there should be a pack and water bottles to account for.
 
indicolite22 said:
How realistic is the expectation that the US should send an official search team to locate its citizen that goes missing abroad? Has that happened in other cases?
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I believe the LE people that flew to Amargos were personal friends or colleagues that have SAR expertise but are not on any official business. Using personal time for this noble cause.
 
I guess we have to ask about the friend he was to be meeting in Kapatola. That was the person that reported him missing at 3:30. One would assume that person tried several times to contact him on his cell phone without response.

Was there any reason that person would wish him harm?

Could he be the victim of a robbery gone awry? Someone knows he is carrying all his cash and CC, someone waiting at Asphondilitis for him. Is the woman's story of soda and water purchase credible as she appears to be the last known person to have seen him.

Yeah, I'm out on a limb, but there is just radio silence about everything and there is no trace of him yet found.
 
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I notice he has a facial asymmetry in the missing person photos.Does he have Bell's palsy or has he had a stroke in the past?

About midnight there now. Not ONE word of any update or additional information. Is the internet so bad there that the family cannot post? Why is there no news at all for the last 3 days? ( I have to think there is something newer from the family rather than what looks like the video in the airport bus, probably in Los Angeles, rather than Athens)
 
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