ATHENS, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- The body of a missing British astrophysicist, Natalie Christopher, was found on Greece's Ikaria island on Wednesday.
Greek police had expanded their search operations to locate the 35 year-old woman, who was spending her vacations in the Aegean island, with her Cypriot partner.
The victim was spotted in a ravine 20 meters deep, in a rough mountainous area outside Agios Kirikos, the main Port of Ikaria, where authorities and volunteers had focused their research.
A forensic investigator and officials from the Greek Directorate of Criminal Investigation, are going to conduct an on-site autopsy and investigate the scene on Thursday, according to Greek national news agency AMNA.
Emergency service staff who discovered the body, told on state broadcaster ERT that a large rock had dislodged as she fell, causing multiple head injuries. The investigation will continue with focus on the cause of death.
The police were investigating blood stains found on her bedroom pillow, attributed by her partner to a nose bleed. The samples were sent to a laboratory for DNA analysis, according to Greek media report.
Police launched the search on Monday after the woman's disappearance was reported to the island's Police Department by her partner.
A sports enthusiast, Christopher went missing after she reportedly told her friend on the phone that she had gone jogging. She was born in London and lived in Cyprus.
