In one of his last interviews before his shocking and untimely death at the age of 67, Dr. Michael Mosley told how his drive to maintain his own health arose from not wanting to die “early” like his father, who lived to be 74 years old.
Speaking in late April about his motivation in comments that are now tragically moving, the much-loved Mail columnist and TV doctor said his own father, Bill, “hadn’t seen his grandchildren grow up”.
“I thought that’s not the path I want to go down,” Dr. Mosley told an interviewer.
The father-of-four, whose TV series included “super-age” advice on how to stay young, has told how his father, a banker, developed diabetes when he was 50, just as he did too.
“My father, when he retired, basically sat on the couch and watched sports and that was incredibly bad for him,” Dr. Mosley said. the Telegraph.
In one of his last interviews before his shocking and untimely death at the age of 67, Dr. Michael Mosley told how his drive to maintain his own health stemmed from not wanting to die “early” like his father.
Dr. Mosley (above right) photographed with his parents and brother in Hong Kong in 1962. His father, Bill, died at the age of 74 and never saw his grandchildren grow up.
In one of his influential columns for the Daily Mail, the health guru detailed how his father’s final years were also “ruined” by “invasive” surgery to remove his prostate after a blood test found elevated levels. of PSA.
“In fact, he died of unrelated heart failure several years after the operation,” Dr Mosley wrote in an article published yesterday in the Mail.
Determined to learn from the loss of his father, after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2012, Dr. Mosley changed his own diet and managed to beat the disease and inspire many others to follow his example with his influential Sugar Diet. blood and its Diet 5:2. .
Explaining how this prompted him to create what could be his most lasting legacy, Dr Mosley told the interviewer: “When my GP told me I should start taking medication, it shouldn’t have been a surprise, because my father had developed diabetes around the same time. age.
And then he died. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was.
“I had seen what had happened to my father,” he told the Telegraph.
‘He had died at 74, which is early these days.
Dr Mosley pictured with his wife Dr Clare Bailey Mosley, who said they had “no intention of leaving work”.
The father-of-four was found dead on the Greek island of Symi on Sunday morning after taking a wrong turn on a mountain road.
His body was discovered just 80 meters from a bar and security in Agia Marina.
The aerial map above shows the location where Dr. Mosley’s body was found, bringing a tragic end to a five-day search for the much-loved health guru.
Greek police have confirmed that the body found yesterday is that of Dr Michael Mosley (pictured)
Dr Michael Mosley carried a small bottle of water with him as he made his tragic journey through the mountains in scorching 37C heat. The map above reveals his final moments.
Dr Mosley was captured on CCTV carrying an umbrella in the town of Pedi before taking a wrong turn on a mountain path.
‘That feels young. He had not seen his grandchildren grow up.
“I thought that’s not the path I want to go down.”
The premature loss of his father also influenced Dr. Mosley’s refusal to consider retirement, he added.
“I am 67 years old and many of my colleagues are already retired,” he added.
Stating that neither he nor his wife of almost 40 years and frequent collaborator, Dr Clare Bailey Mosley, had “any intention of leaving work”, he added: “Why would you give up?
“I’m very happy to continue writing and giving public speeches and doing television shows and podcasts.”
Dr. Mosley added that having doctor friends (and one of his sons working as a doctor) helped him stay “in touch” with the latest health research.
But equally important is the simple act of cultivating friendships, something that men in particular find more difficult near retirement age, he said.
Young British volunteers and family friends walk along the road to Agua Marina near Pedi on Friday as they searched for Dr Mosley.
Friends and volunteers in Symi, Greece, where a search and rescue operation for Dr Mosley had taken place.
Dr Mosley with his wife Clare on their wedding day in 1987, almost 40 years ago.
‘Men, in general, are not that good at forming relationships.
‘And when they reach retirement, they suddenly realize they have no friends.
“There’s a lot of research that shows the benefits of putting in your time, getting together with friends and that kind of stuff.”
As his family, colleagues and those whose lifestyles he has influenced to improve over the decades mourn the loss of Dr. Mosley, they can take solace in knowing that his legacy of hope and positivity will live on.
