Huge search launched after British tourist vanishes on Greek holiday island

A search operation has been launched after a British tourist was reported missing on a Greek island and his rental car found abandoned. The 60-year-old man was staying in tourist accommodation in the village of Tristomo on Karpathos, an island between Rhodes and Crete, when he disappeared.

Local authorities launched a search for the British holidaymaker after he failed to return to the village, with police finding his rental car stranded near Avlonas, an agricultural hamlet on the island, shortly afterwards. The 60-year-old was last seen by the owner of the accommodation he was staying in on Friday, June 27, according to local reports. The UK Foreign Office said it was aware of the situation and was in contact with Greek authorities as investigations continue.

"We are supporting the family of a British man who is missing in Greece and are in contact with the local authorities," a spokesperson for the FCDO told LBC.

Heat weather warnings are currently in place across the Dodecanese Islands, including Karpathos, with meteorologists warning of temperatures of up to 38C on the archipelago.

Greece has also been on high wildfire alert after extreme weather was linked to the outbreak of a huge blaze south of Athens on Thursday, forcing road closures and evacuations near the Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion.

The search for the unnamed 60-year-old on Karpathos comes just days after a 73-year-old British tourist was found dead in a sun lounger on Skiathos, in the Sporades archipelago, last week.

The 73-year-old was discovered by fellow holidaymakers, according to reports, with a lifeguard first attempting first aid on the British national before emergency services arrived at the beach resort Agia Paraskevi.

A local doctor tried to resuscitate him for around 40 minutes, but unfortunately was not able to save his life.

Earlier this month, another 68-year-old British tourist was found dead on Rhodes after reportedly losing consciousness while swimming.

He was rushed to the island's Archangelos Health Centre, but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.