A new breakthrough has emerged in the case of a missing British woman who was last spotted on a popular Greek beach.

Michele Bourda had been swimming at Ofrynio beach in the city of Kavala at around noon on Friday before disappearing.

Greece's Hellenic Coast Guard have been searching the sea while local officers have been investigating the land.

However, the central port authority in Kavala last night said it had paused its targeted search and rescue efforts.

Now, a new lead has potentially emerged, with an eyewitness claiming he saw a woman that resembled Bourda swimming in deep waters and said that he urged her to not go any further.

Sources have also claimed that her belongings were left behind next to her sun-lounger after she vanished.

Authorities in Greece warned the 59-year-old could be in danger as a Silver Alert was issued after the police failed to immediately locate the tourist.

FACEBOOK | Michele Bourda vanished from a northern Greek beach

Bourda was last spotted wearing a two-piece swimsuit, yellow shoes and red sunglasses.

According to reports, she arrived on the beach with her husband, but after he fell asleep, she was nowhere to be found.

She had been described as being 5ft 6in, of a slim build with blue eyes and shoulder-length hair.

The Greek missing persons charity, Lifeline Hellas, issued the alert, saying: "Her life is in danger. If you know anything, contact the Silver Alert service, 24 hours a day, at the National SOS Line 1065."

GOOGLE MAPS

It is the second time a British tourist has gone missing in Greece after a 60-year-old British visitor vanished last month.

The unnamed tourist was last spotted in Tristomo village on Karpathos island.

His vehicle was discovered abandoned during extreme heat conditions reaching 38C.

These cases form part of a concerning pattern of British nationals encountering difficulties whilst holidaying in Greece.

Television star Michael Mosley was found dead during a Greek holiday last year after disappearing on Symi island.

His remains were located following an extensive four-day search in June 2024.

Video surveillance showed the medical broadcaster apparently stumbling near the location where his body was eventually discovered.

Buckinghamshire's senior coroner, Crispin Butler, determined the death was "most likely attributable either to heatstroke (accidental) or [a] non-identified pathological cause".

Elsewhere, the disappearance of Lancashire teenager Jay Slater in the Playa de las Américas area of Tenerife made national and international headlines.

Slater flew from Lancashire to the Canary Islands for a music festival but disappeared after he went to stay with people he met during a night out on June 16 last year. His body was discovered on July 15.

Following a post-mortem examination that was carried out in Britain last week, the 19-year-old was revealed to have died from traumatic head injuries.

His body was found in a deep ravine in the mountains and it was believed that he fell whilst trying to make his way back to his hotel.