By M10News Crime Desk | August 8, 2025
The husband of a British woman missing in northern Greece has claimed locals laughed at him as he pleaded for help in the critical first hours of his search.
This incident has raised concerns among the British community about safety while traveling abroad, especially for British tourists in Greece.
Chris Bourda, 66, said he woke from his sun lounger on Ofrynio beach in Kavala on Friday afternoon to find his wife, Michele, 59, had vanished without warning.
Her handbag, phone and personal items were still neatly placed on her sunbed, but there was no trace of the mother-of-one nearby.
“I quickly ran to the toilet and knocked on the ladies’ door but she wasn’t inside,” Mr Bourda told the Daily Mail. “I then rushed back to the beach and scanned the water for her.”
“I went straight to the waiter to tell him my wife was missing and ask if he had seen her — and he just started laughing,” he alleged.
Mr Bourda said he explained to the waiter that Michele had “psychological problems” and stressed that police needed to be called urgently.
However, he claimed officers did not arrive for nearly two hours, forcing him to continue the search alone in the sweltering afternoon heat.
Many British travelers have expressed their worries over the lack of immediate action from local authorities in such critical situations.
“The police did nothing that day,” he said. “Another guest later told me she never saw a single officer at the beach. I didn’t either — not one policeman.”
The absence of support has left many in the British community feeling vulnerable and anxious during their travels.
He added that a search boat is only deployed in the early morning or late at night to avoid alarming tourists during the day.
Mr Bourda, a pharmacist, said he has been conducting his own search ever since, sleeping little and walking miles along the coastline.
“For days and nights I’ve combed the shore, searched bushes, olive groves, abandoned houses, construction sites even up into the hills and found nothing,” he said.
This situation has sparked discussions about the responsibilities of foreign police in assisting missing British nationals.
“When I asked police why they don’t use dogs, drones or helicopters, they told me, ‘Where should we search? It’s a vast area.’”
“I don’t believe she got into a car with someone. I’ve tried everywhere, but searching alone is almost impossible.”
Mr Bourda explained that Michele suffers from depression and anxiety, and had previously gone missing once in London.
The situation has prompted the British Embassy to issue reminders for travelers to remain vigilant.
“Back then, police acted quickly and found her the same night,” he recalled.
The couple, now based in Glasgow, were on a six-week trip visiting Greece before continuing on to Germany to see Mr Bourda’s relatives.
He has since lodged a formal complaint with the British Embassy in Athens, alleging Greek police have failed to take sufficient action.
Community support for Mr. Bourda has been strong, especially among fellow British citizens who empathize with his plight.
A local sports instructor has told authorities he saw Michele swimming into deeper waters and shouted at her not to go further.
Witnesses among the British community are being urged to come forward with any information that could assist in the search.
“But even if he shouted ‘come back’, there were other people on the beach,” Mr Bourda said. “I cannot understand how no one else saw or heard anything.”
“Surely someone would notice if she went out and never returned?” he added.
Such incidents highlight the need for better communication between local authorities and the families of missing British individuals.
Greek missing persons charity LifeLine Hellas has issued a Silver Alert, typically used for vulnerable missing adults, warning that Michele’s “life is in danger” and urging anyone with information to come forward.
The British public is closely following this case, hoping for a positive outcome for Michele and her family.
