Death toll rising in Greece as heat waves sweep

Greece is counting the cost of an early heatwave that has taken the lives of several tourists in a preview of the extreme weather it is likely to face this summer.

An urgent warning has been issued to anyone travelling to Greece as four holidaymakers have died and more are missing amid record temperatures.

The Trust Me, I’m a Doctor presenter, 67, was found dead on Sunday, four days after he went missing.

A 67-year-old Dutch tourist was found dead in Crete on June 5. The man collapsed while crossing the Mylon gorge in Rethymno, he suffered heart failure in the heat.

On the same day, local media reported a 70-year-old French tourist collapsed and died while walking on a beach in Sitia, Crete.

A fourth tourist death was reported on June 13 on Crete. An 80-year-old man had left his hotel on his own and was found dead near an archaeological site near Malia.

Search teams in Greece are still looking for three other missing tourists in separate incidents.

Greece has now been hit by the earliest heatwave on record. A heatwave is classed as temperatures exceeding 38C for at least three days.

Tourist sites in sweltering Athens and beyond were forced to close last week. The Acropolis shut its doors to visitors after reports of people fainting while waiting in line. Greek authorities issued a level three heat alert, sending automated warnings to phones that urged people to work from home and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.