While family members and friends continue to search for a 59-year-old retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy missing on the Greek Island of Amorgos, a missing American tourist was found dead on another island nearly 500 miles away.
The remains of the man, who has yet to be identified, were found on a remote beach on the small Greek island of Mathraki, just west of Corfu on June 16, according to the Associated Press.
He had been reported missing by his host, a Greek-American friend, on June 13.
The disappearance of Ret. L.A. County Deputy Sheriff Albert Calibet and the discovery of the deceased U.S. tourist come amid a series of cases in which tourists in Greece have died or gone missing after setting out on hikes in extremely hot weather.
A search and rescue effort for Calibet, who has been missing ever since he set out on a hike he’d done many times before on June 11 in 97-degree temperatures, is still underway.
His brother, Oliver Calibet, who is now on Amorgos searching for him, was visibly sad and frustrated in a video posted to YouTube recently.
“I just want to find my brother. I don’t know why the U.S. can’t come and help me,” he said. “I’m here with six people from L.A., we’re here on our own dime.”
Family friend Robin Winston León told KTLA that there are very few resources on the part of the island Calibet disappeared on. The island, she said, is about half the size of Catalina with about 2,000 people on it and no airport.
Calibet’s sister-in-law, Sandrine Cutright, explained that search and rescue efforts have been hindered by the rugged terrain that can’t be traversed at night.
“Maybe somebody has a night vision drone or something that can detect heat,” she said.
L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna released a statement on the 59-year-old’s disappearance, saying in part:
“We are actively collaborating with multiple agencies abroad to provide assistance in the search for Deputy Calibet and will use every resource we have available to bring him back to those who love him.”
A GoFundMe has been organized to help those searching for Calibet get more resources and equipment in their efforts to locate him.
“The clock is ticking, and we feel like we’re losing time,” León told KTLA last week.
