Retired LA County Deputy Albert Calibet Missing in Greece While Hiking on Vacation

The family of Albert Calibet, a retired Los Angeles County Deputy, is tirelessly searching for him after he failed to return home from a trip to a Greek island. Albert, a seasoned hiker with dual citizenship in Greece, was last seen embarking on a four-hour hike across the island of Amorgos to meet a friend for lunch. His disappearance has sparked a large-scale search effort involving both family members and local authorities.

Vanished During Hike

Albert was reported missing on June 11, 2021, after he failed to arrive at his destination by 3:30 p.m. that day. Despite being a knowledgeable hiker, he had not been heard from since he sent a picture of a trail sign to his sister. Even though he had two phones with him, there had been no response to attempts to reach him. As of June 13, more than three days have passed since his disappearance, leaving his family deeply distraught.

Oliver Calibet, Albert's brother, expressed the family's deep concern stating, "We're almost on three days here. There's no water... I'm very distraught." In response to the situation, a group of family members and friends with search and rescue experience have traveled to the island, while others have established a headquarters in Hermosa Beach to coordinate with authorities and maintain communication with Albert's friend.

Unusual Circumstances

Albert's disappearance is particularly puzzling given his frequent visits to Amorgos over the past decade. The island's deputy mayor of tourism, Popi Despotidi, noted, "It is strange because he is not a person who walked the route for the first time. He knows Amorgos better than me." Additionally, his vanishing coincides with extreme heat warnings throughout Greece, with the island of Amorgos being no exception.

The distressing situation involving Albert echoes another recent case in Greece. Notably, popular British TV presenter Michael Mosley was found deceased on June 9 after disappearing on a hike on June 5. The unfortunate occurrences have also extended to Samos, where a 74-year-old Dutch tourist has been missing since Sunday.

Despite the challenges posed by the extreme heat, the search for Albert Calibet and the Dutch tourist remains ongoing, involving the efforts of police, fire brigade, and volunteers, including by air.