Found Deceased Michele Ann Joy Bourda, 59, British tourist, suddenly disappeared from Ofrynio beach in Kavala, Greece, 1 Aug 2025

[Corina]

The Bourdas, who had been married for 36 years after meeting at university in Germany, had enjoyed their first few days wandering around Kavala.

Mr Bourda said: 'The whole night before she had been holding my hand and you would never think anything was wrong or something like this would ever happen.

'We were talking the other day and she was saying how happy our 40 years together and I said yes, we will hopefully have another 40 years in front of us.'
That sounds like a worrying farewell to me. The next day, I believe, she wanted to be without her husband and used the time, he slept. Perhaps depression was taking over. IMO

To me they sound like the words of a grateful, happy woman.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

To me it could be letting him know that what she decided to do was not because of him.

Having depression can be a life long battle that she just couldn't fight anymore.

Or it could have just been a terrible accident and she got into trouble in the water.

 

[BaiHu]

Sad to see it end this way. I’ll admit I had my doubts at first, since nobody around me seemed to know about this. I did check with some mutuals of the son and now I understand more. They really are a private family. This is devastating for the husband and son. From what I can tell, the husband did his best for her. Tragic that these are the answers they’ve been left with. I wish them strength as they grieve in private.

 

[FL Wannabe]

I'm glad her body has been found so that her husband can have closure. I would chose to believe this was an accident. She was known to be a swimmer, so I don't think drowning would be her first choice for suicide as instinct might kick in a prevent it. Just an unfortunate event.

 

[Dotta]

"Greece’s coastguard confirmed
that the body of the 59-year-old,
whose disappearance sparked a big rescue operation,
had been discovered
by a passing yacht on the islet of Fidonisi.

The Greek-born pharmacis said
he would be pressing charges against local authorities
because of the way they had handled the case.

'The investigation was not conducted properly.
I have already filed a complaint against the police and the coastguard
because they were criminally slow in dealing with my wife’s disappearance.
Valuable time was lost and she could still be alive'.

A Greek missing persons charity, Lifeline Hellas,
issued a silver alert stating her life was 'in danger'
and mobilising Greek authorities when it became clear she could not be found.

At first the search focused almost exclusively on the sea,
with the Hellenic coastguard sending out two patrol boats.
Private recreational craft and five fishing boats also scoured the waters,
extending rescue efforts across the entire Strymonian Gulf.

When, after three days, the operation failed to yield results,
the Greek police force took over,
focusing their search inland."

Body found on Greek island identified as missing British tourist

Michele Bourda’s husband says police and coastguard were ‘criminally slow’ in responding to her disappearance in August

www.theguardian.com

 

[Sarahlou]

I understand the husband's frustration. In this case however, I can't imagine it would have made any difference. If she went in the water while he was asleep there's nothing that the authorities could have done. I believe she intended to drown JMO.

 

[Hexe]

Weird. In order to drift from Ofrynio to Fidonisi Michele's body would have to go against the current, which in summer goes west. Hm.

 

[Cinister09]

Wonder how she ended up on a yacht...

"She was found on a yacht near the privately owned islet of Fidonisi, Greek coastguard confirmed."

Husband of woman missing in Greece identifies her 'from only her bones'

The husband of a woman missing in Greece has confirmed her dead from her remains.

metro.co.uk

 

[Sarahlou]

Wonder how she ended up on a yacht...

"She was found on a yacht near the privately owned islet of Fidonisi, Greek coastguard confirmed."

Husband of woman missing in Greece identifies her 'from only her bones'

The husband of a woman missing in Greece has confirmed her dead from her remains.

metro.co.uk

I think that must be a typo. The other article said she was found by a passing yacht. Her body was found on the island.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

That article seems to be from a bad translation.
What person on earth could recognise someone "from their bones"

 

[pol100gk]

Wonder how she ended up on a yacht...

"She was found on a yacht near the privately owned islet of Fidonisi, Greek coastguard confirmed."

Husband of woman missing in Greece identifies her 'from only her bones'

The husband of a woman missing in Greece has confirmed her dead from her remains.

metro.co.uk

The current changes depending on the time of day and weather. Fidonisi (snake island) is uninhabited and was for sale last year for EUR 3 million. If someone bought it, it may not be allowed to make landfall there. I am glad her husband has closure and I am sorry for his loss. I understand his anger.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Tributes paid to 'lovely' Glasgow mum found dead after disappearing from beach in Greece

Michele's neighbours in Glasgow have been left shocked by the news and have paid tribute to the "quiet" mum who "liked to keep herself to herself".

www.glasgowlive.co.uk

Tributes paid to 'lovely' Glasgow mum found dead after disappearing from beach in Greece​

The neighbours of Glasgow woman Michele Bourda have paid tribute following the heartbreaking news of her death.

The couple's neighbours in Glasgow have been left shocked by the news and have paid tribute to the "quiet" mum who "liked to keep herself to herself".

Susan Sloey, 44, who lives next door to the pair, told the Daily Record: "I was absolutely devastated to hear the news. I've been checking every day for updates. It's awful.

"I'm really upset. The whole thing has just been unbelievable. I have been really worried but we knew the longer it went on the less likely it would be that she was going to be found.

"I'm heartbroken for her and I'm heartbroken for Chris. I can't imagine what this has been like these past few weeks. It's horrendous."

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Body found on Greek island identified as missing British tourist

Michele Bourda’s husband says police and coastguard were ‘criminally slow’ in responding to her disappearance in August

www.theguardian.com

Officials now believe that Bourda probably drowned and that her body was pushed by strong currents along the coast before it was discovered on the privately owned island. The results of an autopsy conducted by pathologists on Friday have yet to be announced.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1964773678480064829

"An autopsy took place on Friday
and medical experts have confirmed she almost certainly died from drowning.

Nikos Kifnidis, a forensic scientist said:

'There were no other injuries…
I have concluded her death was a result of drowning in the water'."

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Rest in peace Michele

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

IMO we will never know if this was an accident, suicide, abduction, murder.

How could anyone possibly know? JMO MOO

May she rest in peace now

 

[TootsieFootsie]

So sad for her husband and son

 

[LittleSeaTree]

I wouldn’t describe 59 as elderly. Is there any evidence of her having early onset dementia?

It would make sense that they also have links/property in the UK as in a dual nationality marriage.
IMO

Thank you from this mid-50s gal Ignorance or it sounds more sensational to write? Crazy. In my opinion, 90s sound more elderly to me.

 

[LittleSeaTree]

View attachment 606071
when i translate the missing persons website it says she’s “elderly unidentified”.. i wouldn’t say 59 is elderly, but i think maybe for some people elderly is 55+? i wonder what people in greece think is elderly!

i’m not 100% convinced she has to have dementia or a similar condition (but it could be the case of course)

The island of Ikaria is designated as a ‘blue zone’ by author Dan Buettner on his documentary series with having many residents over the age of 100. Eating the Mediterranean Diet sure seems beneficial, imo! Please pass the olives…For anyone interested, the show is called, Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones. Beautiful imagery, etc! Maybe they call 100 and older Elderly

 

[Kittypoo]

Thank you from this mid-50s gal Ignorance or it sounds more sensational to write? Crazy. In my opinion, 90s sound more elderly to me.

I’m a similar age to you hence my comment and surprise