Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Natalie Christopher: Second female scientist goes missing while jogging on Greek island

Authorities launched major search operation in Ikaria after British woman disappears

Alessio Perrone
Wednesday 07 August 2019 15:34 BST
Comments
Missing British scientist Natalie Christopher 'found dead' on Greek island of Ikaria

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A female British scientist has been reported missing in Greece after she did not return from a morning run on Monday.

Greek authorities have launched a major search operation on the Greek island of Ikaria, with police, firefighters, volunteers and the coast guard all participating in the search of the 35-year-old woman.

Authorities did not publicly name the woman, but Greek media believe her to be Natalie Christopher, a British astrophysicist who lives and works in Cyprus.

Ms Christopher went to Ikaria on holiday with her 38-year-old Cypriot partner.

The couple were due to return to Cyprus via Athens on Monday, but her partner reported her as missing after she failed to return from jogging.

A helicopter is also participating in the search. Police said they were keeping all lines of inquiry open.

Ms Christopher would be the second female scientist who has gone missing after going for a run on a Greek Island this summer.

In July, US scientist Suzanne Eaton went missing in Crete.

Ms Eaton, 59, was a molecular biologist at the Max Planck Institute in Dresden in Germany and had travelled to Crete to attend a conference.

Her colleagues raised the alarm on 2 July when she did not return from jogging.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

Her body was found in a Second World War military bunker used during the Nazi occupation of Crete and a coroner revealed she had been raped and killed.

The Max Planck Institute said in a statement that she was “a leading scientist in her field, a strong athlete, runner and senior black belt in Taekwondo”.

Additional reporting by AP

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in