Natalie Christopher: Police search for missing British woman on Greek island of Ikaria
Written by News on 07/08/2019
Greek police are searching for a British woman who is missing on the island of Ikaria after not returning home from a run.
Natalie Christopher, a 35-year-old astrophysicist, arrived on the island on Saturday with her partner, Cyprus Mail reports.
Police said that officers, firefighters, the coastguard and volunteers were involved in the search, which is focusing on rugged areas.
A helicopter with thermal cameras is also reportedly being used.
Police said they were keeping all lines of inquiry open.
Greek media reported that Ms Christopher and her boyfriend were due to leave Ikaria for Cyprus on Monday.
However, the missing woman is said to have gone for a run that morning and never returned.
Her partner, who has not been named, reportedly phoned her after waking up to find she was not there.
Ms Christopher, who lives in Cyprus, is said to have answered and said she was out jogging in the Kerame area.
Her partner reportedly called her phone again when she failed to return, but there was no response.
Local reports said Ms Christopher’s phone was still on after she first went missing.
Her sister, Jena Christopher, posted on Facebook: “If you have her phone number please DO NOT call her.
“As this will drain the battery and the police are trying to use her phone to find her location.”
Police reportedly said that they were investigating samples of blood discovered on beds sheets in the hotel room the couple had rented.
Theodoris Theodorakis, the owner of the hotel in Kerame, was quoted in local media as describing the droplets as “typical of a nosebleed”.
But police said the linen had also been sent to a laboratory for DNA testing.
Local media reports said a radio signal from the phone was picked up by a cell tower on Fourni island opposite Ikaria, but authorities believe it was due to interference.
Greek media said authorities were considering switching off the tower to get a clearer idea of the location of the phone.
(c) Sky News 2019: Natalie Christopher: Police search for missing British woman on Greek island of Ikaria
