The 78-year-old man reported missing in the Paphos district has been found dead in a rural area near Praitori, with forensic authorities investigating whether he may have died from a viper bite.
Achilleas Michael had been reported missing on 8 May. The search began on Sunday when his vehicle was located in the broader Praitori area, prompting a large-scale operation involving ground forces, drones equipped with thermal cameras, sniffer dogs and, on Monday, a helicopter. Despite the extensive search, he was not found on the first day of operations. His body was eventually discovered by police officers during searches on Monday, in an open field in the eastern part of the Paphos district.
A post-mortem examination has since been carried out. Forensic authorities identified marks on the lower part of one of the man's feet which are being examined for a possible viper bite, though no definitive conclusion has yet been reached. Samples taken during the examination will be sent for specialised scientific and toxicological analysis to establish the precise cause of death.
Police said the case remains under investigation and that the laboratory results are expected to provide critical answers.
